ABBAS TO FREE MURDERERS AFTER ISRAELI PULLBACK

Abbas: Accused Militants to Go Free After Pullback
Ahmed Saadat, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) who has been held in Jericho after being accused of ordering the assassination of Israeli cabinet minister Rehavam Zeevi in October 2001, will be freed from jail when Israel pulls back from the city this week, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday. "Saadat and [Fuad] Shobaki will be released from prison in Jericho when Jericho is handed over to the Palestinians," Abbas said. Saadat and three others blamed for the killing of Zeevi, as well as Shobaki - the chief financier of the Karine A weapons ship in 2002 - are being guarded in a Jericho prison by the British under a deal between Israel and the Palestinians in 2002. (Reuters)

See also Israel: Murderers Will Be Rearrested - Eliel Shahar
The Defense Ministry said Israel "strongly opposes" the release of Zeevi's murderers and that "if they are released, they will be rearrested." (Maariv-Hebrew)