RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has closed 92 charities linked to Hamas, officials said Monday, part of an intensifying West Bank crackdown on the Islamic militants who seized the Gaza Strip and are challenging renewed peace talks with Israel.
Israel released 429 Palestinian prisoners to try to bolster Abbas and build on momentum from last week’s Mideast peace conference in Annapolis, Md., where Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said they would aim to reach a peace deal next year.
Joy mixed with tears as buses carrying the prisoners, most from Abbas’ Fatah movement, rolled into his walled headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Many had been arrested at the height of the Palestinian uprising several years ago.
Ex-gunman Tareq Abu Lail, 24, said he hoped for peace, but doubted he would see success. Sentenced to eight years, he got out after three and said he was proud of his role in the uprising. His father Yousef, 49, disagreed.
“The uprising is dead,” he said. “We hope Annapolis will be the start of peace.”
Abbas’ information minister, Riad Malki, said the targeted charities were infiltrated by Hamas activists. “They transformed the charity committees into financial empires to serve their political ends and activities,” he said.
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad was scheduled to announce today the formation of 11 new charity committees to take the place of those dissolved.
