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Last update - 02:03 25/12/2007
Ministers back new criteria for who has 'blood on his hands'
By Barak Ravid

The special ministerial forum examining the criteria for releasing Palestinian security prisoners seems to have a majority in favor of relaxing the conditions, which were set by the Shin Bet security service in the prisoner exchange of 2004 that freed Elhanan Tannenbaum.

Defense officials have said that no senior Hamas prisoners could be released in an exchange for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit without changing the present criteria that prohibit the release of prisoners with "blood on their hands."
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The ministerial forum convened yesterday and is expected to meet again tomorrow. The ministers hope to have their recommendations ready by the end of next week, to present to the ministerial committee on prisoner release and the political-security cabinet.

The forum is authorized to formulate recommendations, not to make operative decisions. "The final decision regarding the criteria will be given a broader forum," a source said.

Yesterday's meeting included a briefing from Ofer Dekel, the government's point man on efforts to free Israel's kidnapped soldiers, who spoke about his recent talks in Cairo with Egyptian intelligence officials. The meeting was attended by Vice Premier Haim Ramon, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, and Minister without Portfolio Ami Ayalon.

Ramon is willing to be flexible over relaxing the criteria for a prisoner release, Dichter is open to discussion on the matter, and Ayalon also supports flexibility, "strictly for the purpose of a deal to release Gilad Shalit."

Friedmann apparently is against easing the criteria, which is also the Shin Bet's position.
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