PA Chairman:We will continue to seek the release of all prisoners

RAMALLAH-Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Friday that the PA would continue to seek the release of all Palestinian prisoner held in Israeli jails, during a festive ceremony in Ramallah welcoming the 255 Palestinian prisoners released by Israel several hours earlier."Our work must continue until every prisoner returns to the his home,"he said at a welcoming ceremony for the prisoners in Ramallah."You cannot imagine how happy we are that you came back to us,"Abbas told a crowd of about 3,000 at the presidential compound."But our happiness is missing something because we want all 11,000 prisoners to return to their families."Israel released the prisoners Friday morning as a goodwill gesture meant to bolster Abbas in his power struggle with Hamas.For Palestinians, the prisoners are heroes in the struggle for statehood, and large-scale prisoner releases are seen as an effective way for Abbas to win popularity and support.However, Israel refuses to free inmates serving time for wounding or killing Israelis.None of the prisoners being freed Friday were directly involved in attacks on Israelis, according to Israeli officials.

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