The list of Palestinian prisoners whom the security
services deem candidates for release now stands at
almost 600, and many of the new names are guilty
of far more serious offenses than those on the
original list, according to sources who have seen
the revised list.

The sources said that several
dozen of the almost 250 names
that have been added over the
last several days are members
of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the
Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine.
Furthermore, while the initial
list consisted largely of
administrative detainees who
were due to be released soon anyway and
Palestinians convicted of criminal rather than
terrorist offenses, most of the new names are
genuine security prisoners who have been
convicted of terror-related offenses.

This is completely disgusting. Here's why:

But the defense establishment is opposed to more
far-reaching measures as long as the
Palestinian Authority continues to refuse to
disarm the terrorist organizations. An
investigation by the IDF's Central Command
revealed that over the last few weeks, the
ranks of the terrorist organizations' local
cells have swelled, whereas prior to the start
of the cease-fire, they had thinned
considerably, thanks to the mass arrests
carried out by the IDF and the Shin Bet. In
addition to actively recruiting new members,
the cells are also trying to build more
powerful bombs.

The PA seems to be attempting to use the cease-fire and the American desire to preserve it in order to prepare for a renewed campaign of terror. That, at least, will be the objective outcome of what is happening right now, especially considering the PA's refusal and/or inability to take action against terrorism as of yet. At the moment, all Abbas has bought himself is a few months before the whole thing starts up again. The US should start pressuring him to deal with Hamas, instead of pressuring Israel to release the murderers of innocent people who fully intend to kill again when they get the chance.