Israel decided to release 5 percent of Palestinian prisoners
Palestine-Israel, Military, 7/7/2003

The Israeli government of prime minister Ariel Sharon has set tough conditions for releasing the Palestinian prisoners while deciding to release 350 of them, less than 5% of the total number, most of them are administrative detainees. A matter which is considered by the Palestinian authority as not enough, and the Palestinian groups sees as a maneuver. A matter which will also threaten the declared truce which among its set preconditions is the release all detainees in the Israeli jails.

The Israeli government agreed 23 against 8 on a memorandum permitting, in principle, the release of detainees on the ground of a list prepared by the internal security body ( Shein Beit). The memorandum which was supported by Sharon specified conditions detainees should meet to be released. A Ministerial committee was assigned to decide the release of the detainees.

During the government's meeting, Sharon explained that releasing the detainees will not be made in one shift. The Israeli army radio said that the Shein Beit list includes 350 names. This number represents 5% of the total number of the Palestinian detainees which Israel said exceeds 6,000.

The Shein Beit list includes 215 names of Palestinians under administrative detention. The other 135 were tried but not convicted over being involved in attacks that resulted in killing or wounding Israelis.

On the other hand, Palestinian Minister of State for Security Affairs Mohammad Dahlan met on Saturday for the first time with Israel's defense minister Shaoul Mofaz who considered the meeting as positive. Mofaz told journalists following the meeting which was held in one of the biggest hotels in West Jerusalem that "the meeting lasted three hours and was positive." He added "there is hope that the Palestinians will start fighting terrorism and it seems to me they have good intention," in a remark to the government of the Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas.

Mofaz also talked about the recession in the number of aggressions and warnings for attacks and provocation for violence. However, he stressed that the attacks are continuous since the announcement of the truce of June 29th.

Previous Stories:
  Abbas criticize Kfar Daroum operation, Israel considers it violation of truce   (7/4/2003)
  Palestine Media Center: Israel Assassinates Palestinian   (7/3/2003)
  Abbas, Sharon start Jerusalem meeting with optimism to achieve peace   (7/2/2003)
  Israel asks for dismantling Palestinian groups, despite the declared truce   (6/30/2003)

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