Subscribe to Print Edition | Mon., December 08, 2008 Kislev 11, 5769 | | Israel Time: 22:03 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate GA 2008 Travel Week's End Anglo File
Shas Chairman Eli Yishai. (JINI / Emil Salman)
Last update - 21:16 07/12/2008
Israel pulls 20 Palestinians from list of 250 prisoners set for release
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel news, Hamas, Abbas 

The ministerial committee overseeing the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails approved on Sunday the release of 230 prisoners as a gesture of goodwill toward the Palestinian Authority ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.

Last week, the cabinet approved a list of 250 prisoners, during its weekly meeting. Some 20 names were removed from the original list following objections by several ministers, who were opposed to releasing prisoners into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

The list of prisoners includes mainly members of the Fatah faction, led by moderate Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and none are classified as having "blood on their hands" or having been directly involved in the murder of Israelis.
Advertisement
After the list was approved, Shas Chairman Eli Yishai said "the prisoner release builds on a trend of destructive one-sidedness that is detached from reality."

Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, who was one of the ministers opposed to the released of Gaza residents, added that "the likelihood that these [prisoners] will not return to terrorism is zero, and they should not be released."

The father of Gilad Shalit, an Israel Defense Forces soldier who was abducted by Gaza militants in 2006, voiced objection to the release of Palestinian prisoners and called the government's decision "strange." In a press release, Noam Shalit said "since Gilad's abduction some 1,000 Palestinian prisoners have been freed, not including the current list, but including several Hamas members, as part of different goodwill gestures that made not even the slightest progress toward Gilad's release."

The Israel Defense Forces issued a statement outlining additional gestures of goodwill to be afforded to the Palestinians for the duration of the Eid al-Adha holiday, including the extension of the operation hours of the Hawara, Awarta, Beit Furik and Beit Iba crossings.

In addition, Palestinian men over 45 will be allowed to enter the Temple Mount, Israeli Arabs will be allowed to enter Area A in the West Bank to visit family members, Palestinian families in the West Bank will be granted entry into Israel to visit immediate family, and restrictions at several other crossings will be eased.


Related articles:
  • Cabinet approves releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners in gesture to Abbas
  • Olmert, in Washington: Israel-PA peace still possible this year
  • Abbas aide: Palestinian elections will be in April whether Hamas agrees or not
  • Abbas calls on Obama to enact Arab peace plan as soon as he takes office
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Striking Iran
    Israel's push to strike Iran puts its relations with the US at risk.
    Wiring up
    Soon enough Israelis will pump their cars full of electricity instead of gasoline.
      1.   How about hamas releasing Gilad Shalit ..... 12:10  |  dave 07/12/08
      2.   I wonder what Olmert will give Abbas for Christmas ? 13:00  |  Akram Zekaria 07/12/08
      3.   Gifts/Good Will 14:19  |  Joe 07/12/08
      4.   Israel To free 230 Pal... 15:16  |  David Weinstock 07/12/08
      5.   Israel`s anti-Jewish discrimination 15:18  |  Conroy 07/12/08
      6.   is it fair? 16:14  |  widow 07/12/08
      7.   Freeing Palestinians! 18:08  |  Ros 07/12/08
      8.   All Palestinians in the West Bank Are prisoners 18:18  |  Shlomo 07/12/08
      9.   It`s a disgrace to Shalit and instead it should be conditional 19:01  |  normal vs. crazy 07/12/08
      10.   #7 Shlomo in Chicago Wow! That would be a mitziya! 19:13  |  Smadar 07/12/08
      11.   Shlomo # 8 21:10  |  GPS 07/12/08
      12.   Where is the goodwill gesture from Hamas and releasing Shalit 21:26  |  Judea 07/12/08
      13.   how many palestinians has the zio-state imprisioned in the last 21:57  |  w/o charges 07/12/08
      14.   No Such Thing as "moderate" Terror Group 22:37  |  Baruch Gold 07/12/08
      15.   Smadar that request from Hamas didnt happen 22:44  |  Iz Ray Leigh 07/12/08
      16.   It`s Only fair. 22:49  |  Cool B 07/12/08
      17.   Exchange Rate 22:55  |  Jasper 07/12/08
      18.   Nice hat 01:39  |  Johnboy 08/12/08
      19.   How abourt pardons to hundreds of Jewish detainees 03:04  |  ronnbo 08/12/08
      20.   Stop Freeing Terrorist 04:42  |  Baruch Gold 08/12/08
      21.   GPS # 11 21:01  |  Shlomo 08/12/08
     Read & React
    Zbigniew Brzezinski: Israel's push for Iran strike may hurt U.S. ties
    Responses: 179
    Burston: Hebron, Feiglin, & self-hating Jews of the right
    Responses: 67
    Defense official: Settler attacks could worsen tensions with Muslim world
    Responses: 107
    Moshe Arens: Like Neville Chamberlain, Barak will realize mistake of Gaza truce
    Responses: 41
    ANALYSIS / Israeli deterrence against Hamas is weakening
    Responses: 47


    More Headlines
    20:33 Likud weighs extending primary vote until Tuesday
    11:58 ANALYSIS / Far-rightist Feiglin's coalition is growing day by day
    21:46 Another gangland killing as underwold figure shot dead in Netanya
    19:40 Olmert announces launch of pension fund safety net
    20:39 Lebanese sources: Lebanon, Iran draw up framework for bilateral cooperation
    17:46 400 Tel Aviv parking spaces now wired to charge electric cars
    21:59 Mismanagement threatens Israel's second most visited site
    15:51 Israeli envoy to UN: Obama must take care of U.S. before focusing on Mideast
    15:03 Zbigniew Brzezinski: Israel's push for Iran strike may hurt U.S. ties
    14:16 IDF warns Ashdod it could soon be in range of Gaza rocket fire
    18:56 IDF soldier lightly hurt as tank overturns in Golan training accident
    13:47 Next EU presidency keen to boost Israel ties, despite some member doubts
    18:24 Police expose ring suspected of extorting thousands from Jerusalem beggars
    17:16 India Jewish community leader: We are determined to rebuild Chabad house
    14:10 Officials: Abbas wants to keep prisoners in jail until his return from hajj
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Summer in Israel
    Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009
    Living in Israel Studying in English
    Click & Meet our students from all around the world
    Fattal Hotel Chain
    Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel.
    Car rental in Israel
    Shlomo Sixt Receive $15.00 from our low rates.
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Hebrew Summer courses
    From $39.95
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |
    Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel
    birthright Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved