JERUSALEM — Initial jubilation over the impending prisoner-swap deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas began to dampen Wednesday as people on both sides expressed concerns that their leaders may have negotiated away too much.
While many Palestinians celebrated the expected release of 1,027 prisoners from Israeli jails, some were disappointed that the list did not include high-profile leaders such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat. The two men were convicted by Israeli courts of orchestrating terrorist attacks and are serving life sentences. In previous negotiations, Hamas had insisted that the men be released.
Also, more than 200 prisoners will be deported after their release, either to the Gaza Strip or another country, and Israel has reserved the right to re-arrest or assassinate them if they are suspected of more crimes.
“Hamas could have bargained for a better deal,” said Issa Qaraqi, minister of prisoners for the Palestinian Authority and a member in Fatah Party, a rival Palestinian faction. “The deal has some shortfalls.”
Hamas officials dismiss such complaints as sour grapes from a political competitor, but excitement on the streets of the West Bank was noticeably cooler Wednesday as details about the deal emerged.
“The initial glow has died down,” said Muhannad Abdul Hamid, a political analyst and Palestinian newspaper columnist.
Hamid said many Palestinians began having second thoughts after Israel’s right- wing Cabinet voted overwhelmingly to accept the deal, which he said Palestinians interpreted as proof that the terms weren’t tough enough.
In return for the release of the Palestinian prisoners, Hamas agreed to release Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held by militants in Gaza Strip since 2006. The deal is expected to conclude next week.
Among Israelis, after national celebrations Tuesday night over the expected release of Shalit, some leaders and pundits began voicing concerns about the deal, noting that it could set a dangerous precedent. Israel has never before exchanged so many Palestinian prisoners for a single soldier.
