Israel releases 22 Palestinian prisoners

Israel took strict security measures over the past few days in anticipation of Palestinian commando attacks marking the second anniversary of Islamic Jihad leader Fat'hi Sheqaqi's assassination.

Sheqaqi was gunned down in Valetta, Malta, in October 1995 by Mossad agents while en route from Libya back to Damascus where the head offices of his organization are based. Israel, as usual in similar cases, never denied or confirmed reports of its Mossad's involvement in the assassination.

Last month, Mossad agents carried out a failed assassination attempt on Khaled Mishal, head of Hamas political bureau in Amman, Jordan. The arrest of the two Mossad agents led to the release of Sheikh Ahmad Yassin, spiritual leader of the movement, from Israel prisons and the release of more Palestinian prisoners, part of whom, numbering 22, were released at noon on Monday. They all were to be taken to an Israeli air force base from which they are due to be flown to Jordan.