Said al-Atabeh, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli custody, gestures upon his release at the Beitunya checkpoint outside the West Bank city of Ramallah August 25 , 2008. Israel freed 198 Palestinian prisoners to a hero's welcome in the West Bank on Monday, saying it hoped the release would bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his peace efforts. Atabeh was arrested in 1977 and sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of involvement in bombings that killed an Israeli woman and wounded dozens of people. Reuters Pictures 10 months ago

Said al-Atabeh, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner in Israeli custody, gestures upon his release at the Beitunya checkpoint outside the West Bank city of Ramallah August 25 , 2008. Israel freed 198 Palestinian prisoners to a hero's welcome in the West Bank on Monday, saying it hoped the release would bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his peace efforts. Atabeh was arrested in 1977 and sentenced to life imprisonment after being convicted of involvement in bombings that killed an Israeli woman and wounded dozens of people.