Palestinian official not to take part in committee on releasing prisoners

Member of the Palestinian government Mahmoud Abbas has announced that he will not from now on take part in the joint trilateral committee with Israel and the US, in charge of discussing the question of releasing Palestinian security prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Israeli army radio quoted Mahmoud Abbas as saying that his experience with the Israelis and the Americans concerning the release of the detainees is a bitter and a very hard one.

He added that he does not expect the success of the committee due to Israel's persistent refusal to free the Palestinian detainees.

Abbas presides over the Palestinian delegation which takes part in the said committee.