JERUSALEM, May 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Israel accused Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday of acting in a way that encouraged terror and left the door open to further anti-Israeli attacks.

   "Abbas' readiness to release terrorists who should have remained in prison only encourages terror," said David Baker, an official in Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office, referring to Tuesday's release of a Hamas militant suspected of launching rockets against Israeli targets.

   The militant was arrested Monday night after exchanging fire with Palestinian security forces in northern Gaza, but he was freed one day later following talks between Hamas and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA). 

   "This revolving door policy is in direct contradiction to Abbas' commitments at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit to fight terror," Baker said, adding "Instead of slamming the door on terror, Abbas is leaving it wide open for more terror against Israel."

   The arrest was the first made since Abbas ordered his security forces to use an "iron fist" to maintain the ceasefire with Israel mutually announced by Abbas and Sharon at the Feb. 8 summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

   Hamas said it remained committed to the truce agreement reached between Abbas and 13 Palestinian factions in Cairo on March 17, but it warned the PNA that any attempt to detain militants would bring the truce to a collapse.  Enditem