Gov't okays release of 91 Palestinians for Ramadan - Haaretz

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Israel Time: 02:48 (EST+7)

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Gov't okays release of 91 Palestinians for Ramadan

By Barak Ravid

The cabinet yesterday approved the release of 91 Palestinian prisoners ahead of the Muslim holiday of Eid el Fitr, while a senior government source said that Egypt continues to negotiate with Hamas for the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Ofer Dekel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's special coordinator for missing soldiers, visited Cairo again a week ago.

The prisoners to be released are members of Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine who do not have "blood on their hands." The original list included 100 names, but nine were removed because they did not meet the criterion.

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A senior government source said the intensity of the Egypt-Hamas has changed in recent months. "When the Egyptians were in Gaza [before the Hamas takeover of the strip in June], contacts were on a daily basis, and today they are a bit less," the source said.

The cabinet passed the early release by a vote of 16 to 6. Opposed were Shaul Mofaz (Kadima), Yitzhak Aharonovitch (Israel Beiteinu) and the four Shas ministers. Israel Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman was absent.

Following the cabinet approval, the early paroles were approved by the ministerial committee for prisoner releases.

Of the 91 prisoners, 30 are from Gaza. Justice Ministry and Shin Bet security service officials went over each name with the ministers. The final list will be posted on the Justice Ministry and Prisons Services Web sites tonight or tomorrow. The public will have 48 hours to submit objections.

Officials in the Prime Minister's Bureau said the prisoners will probably be released at roadblocks in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank over the course of next week, after coordination with the office of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Kadima ministers yesterday that the release was a gesture extended every year during Ramadan. "The criteria are the same criteria, the release will not hurt the deal for Shalit's release because in any case these are not prisoners on the Hamas list," Olmert said.

The senior government source noted that for the first time, dozens of prisoners from Gaza were being included in the release. "When they see them coming to Gaza, it will have a great effect and we hope the families of Hamas prisoners will pressure Hamas leadership to be more flexible in the talks for Gilad Shalit," he said. The official said the main stumbling block was still the specific prisoners on the list, since Hamas has refused to compromise on the "quality" of the prisoners to be released.

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