Speaker of the Hamas-dominated Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Aziz al-Dweik said on Wednesday upon his release from an Israeli jail that it was a pleasant surprise for the Palestinian people.

Eassa Qaraqe'a, Minister of prisoners' affairs in Salam Fayyad's government, was among hundreds of Palestinians who received free PLC speaker al-Dweik at an Israeli army checkpoint south of the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem.

Rival Fatah and Islamic Hamas leaders forgot their disputes as they waited to receive and congratulate al-Dweik. West Bank Hamas lawmakers Omer Abdel Raziq, Mahmoud al-Rumhi and Abdel Rahman Zeidan also joined the welcoming group.

"I have lots of information and lots of pleasant surprise for my Palestinian people, and I will let them know about it at the gate of the Legislative Council," the 60-year-old gray-bearded al-Dweik told reporters. He was wearing a dark gray suit, white shirt and red necktie.

"My body is free now, but my mind is still with those who are behind the bars," said Dweik, in reference to more than ten thousand Palestinian prisoners imprisoned in Israeli jails.

Palestinian observers believe that al-Dweik's release will boost the inter-Palestinian dialogue, expected to be resumed in Cairo by the end of June, and will help the two big rival movements to be reunited and end their ongoing disputes that lasted for more than two years.

Asked about the earlier reports saying that Hamas and Israel are close to finalize a prisoners' swap deal in Cairo soon, al-Dweik replied "I welcome this and I hope that all our prisoners will be freed from the Israeli jails soon."

Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas telephoned al-Dweik and congratulated his release, official sources at Abbas headquarters in Ramallah said.

Right after his arrival in Tulkarem, al-Dweik said he will head immediately to Ramallah at the PLC building to hold a news conference.

West Bank Hamas lawmaker Abdel Rahman Zeidan said that the freed speaker of the PLC will talk about the internal Palestinian situation, and will reiterate on his call for the national unity.

"Dr. al-Dweik will also deliver a letter from the Palestinian prisoners to the mass media and the Palestinian officials," said Zeidan.

Hamas movement in Gaza considered the release of al-Dweik as a factor that brings back the balance of power in the West Bank.

His release would boost Hamas position in the area ruled by President Mahmoud Abbas, whose security forces cracked down on the movement, which seized control of the Gaza Strip in mid June 2007.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza told reporters that al-Dweik's release would boost the movement "amid what Fatah movement and its security apparatuses are carrying out against our members."

Dweik's lawyer, his family and local sources confirmed that he was freed after he ended his 36-month sentence and paid a bail of 5,000 Israeli shekels (1,250 U.S. dollars) to the Israeli military court.

On Wednesday, an Israeli military court rejected prosecution's attempt to extend al-Dewik's detention period.

Al-Dewik, who comes from the West Bank city of Hebron, was elected the president of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) when Hamas won the elections in 2006.

Source: Xinhua