RAMALLAH, October 18, 2011 (WAFA) –PLO’s executive committee Tuesday expressed deep appreciation for  the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli prisons and considered it a result of the prisoners’ steadfastness and the Palestinian people’s struggle, including all factions, to gain their full freedom, according to statement by the committee.

Following a meeting headed by president Mahmoud Abbas, at the presidency headquarters in Ramallah, the committee expressed hope that this step will be a prelude to the release of all Palestinian prisoners to end their long-suffering in Israeli prisons.

It stressed that this step should be followed by further steps, particularly in light of the commitment made by the former Israeli government; to release a large number of Palestinian prisoners after ending the issue of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, which is over now, therefore, it is time to fulfill that commitment.

The committee also stressed that the ending of the Shalit issue requires Israel to left the siege off Gaza and to revoke all measures and arrangements imposed on Gaza, which led to the suffering of Palestinians for the last six years.

It reiterated its position regarding the resumption of negotiation that cannot happen with the continuation of the Israeli settlement expansion plans in Jerusalem and throughout the West Bank.

The committee affirmed that re-launching negotiations requires Israel to recognize references of the peace process, particularly, the 1967 borders as stated in the recent international quartet’s statement.

It said that it will continue to cooperate with the international quartet in order to launch negotiations; thus, their efforts could fail if Israel did not halt settlement activities and recognize the 1967 borders.

It added that it decided to continue its efforts to gain a full member ship in the United Nations.

The committee affirmed the need to exert more efforts to achieve the national reconciliation since the current situations require the acceleration of these efforts with taking actual steps in this regard.

It expressed great concern at the condition and state of health of Jailed Secretary of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), Ahmad Saadat, calling upon all relevant parties, particularly the Red Cross to give this issue more concern.

T.R./F.R.