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Abbas celebrates prisoners' release

Arab-Israel Relations Materials 31 December 2013 07:21 (UTC +04:00)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas greeted 18 Palestinian prisoners released to the West Bank early Tuesday by Israel, dpa reported.
Abbas celebrates prisoners' release

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas greeted 18 Palestinian prisoners released to the West Bank early Tuesday by Israel, dpa reported.

"It is a happy day for all of us and for our heroic prisoners who have come out today to live as free people," said Abbas, surrounded by the prisoners and making a victory sign.

Israel released a total of 26 Palestinian prisoners early Tuesday as part of five-month-old peace negotiations. "It is like I came out from the grave and into life once again," said Adnan Afandi, released to the West Bank after serving 21 years of a 30-year sentence.

Abbas told the crowd that he will not sign a peace agreement with Israel without release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, who currently number almost 5000.

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