Israel is planning to free 227 Palestinian prisoners on Monday, military radio reported, after a special government committee approved the list of those set for release. The radio said 217 of the prisoners would be sent home to the West Bank and another 10 to the Gaza Strip, although none are members of the Hamas, which Israel considers a terrorist group.
Israel's cabinet approved the release last month as a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, and it was initially due to take place to mark the Muslim festival of Eidul Azha last week, before being delayed. Israeli PM Ehud Olmert told Abbas at their last meeting in November of his plan to release 250 prisoners, but a government committee last Sunday approved a list of only 230 names.
The committee decided on the list according to criteria, which rule out freeing prisoners who belong to groups such as Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip, or those implicated in deadly attacks. Israel freed 198 Palestinian prisoners in August, but more than 11,000 Palestinians are still held in its jails. |