Israeli President Moshe Katsav hailed on Wednesday the success of the Israeli military raid on a prison in the West Bank town of Jericho to capture six wanted Palestinian detainees, local newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

"The Palestinians must recognize the fact that agreements must be respected," Katsav said during a meeting with Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Dan Halutz at his Jerusalem home.

"The state of Israel will not just ignore the murder of Rehavam Zeevi," Katsav added.

Meanwhile, Israeli Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that the six Palestinian detainees would be charged and tried by Israel, local newspaper Ha'aretz reported.

"They will be indicted according to Israeli law and they will be punished as they deserve," Olmert was quoted as saying.

Israeli Attorney General Menachem Mazuz will make the final decision on whether to try the detainees who are being questioned by Israeli security officers.

The six men, including Ahmad Saadat, head of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), surrendered to the Israeli troops after a nine-hour siege of the prison on Tuesday.

Israeli Minister of Public Security Gideon Ezra said on Tuesday that Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz ordered the operation after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said last week that he was prepared to free Saadat and his comrades.

Saadat, who was accused by Israel of masterminding the murder of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001, has been held in a Palestinian prison in Jericho under the U.S. and British supervision since August 2002.

Source: Xinhua