Mohammed Mar’i
Saudi Gazette
RAMALLAH – A senior Palestinian official asked the Israeli government to release of 123 Palestinians who were arrested before the Oslo Accords in 1993 as a goodwill gesture to help advance the peace process.
Hussein Al-Sheikh, the Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister, told the Israel’s Radio that “the Palestinian Authority asked the government of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to release the prisoners and still the government’s response.”
Al-Sheikh, also member of President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah’s Central Committee, said that “a few Israeli officials expressed positive positions on the matter.”
According to the Palestinian minister, “releasing 123 Palestinian prisoners, I am certain, will provide a good atmosphere, and will encourage the Palestinian leadership to consider its position on the negotiations carefully.”
Al-Sheikh said that an objection to releasing the prisoners would be a political one, as “the Israeli defense system knows there is no security risk in releasing these prisoners.”
He noted that “Israel released 1,500 prisoners in negotiations with Hamas in the Gilad Shalit deal. Can it not give a partner for peace 100 or 123 prisoners? That’s a big question mark.”
The peace talks between Israel and the PA broke down in 2010 because Israel insisted to continue settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
US Secretary of State John Kerry held meetings with Palestinian and Israeli leaders in bid to revive the direct peace talks between Palestinian Authority and Israel, thus far in vain.
The Palestinians insist not to resume any direct or indirect peace talks with Israel before the latter clearly declares a complete cessation of settlement activities in the territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem that Palestinians want the capital of their future state. They also demand the release of 123 Palestinian prisoners.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu commented on the peace process and said that Israel is open to any peace initiative, including Arab Peace Initiative.
“We are ready to discuss any initiative that is a proposal, but not a dictum,” he said.
Saudi Gazette
RAMALLAH – A senior Palestinian official asked the Israeli government to release of 123 Palestinians who were arrested before the Oslo Accords in 1993 as a goodwill gesture to help advance the peace process.
Hussein Al-Sheikh, the Palestinian Civil Affairs Minister, told the Israel’s Radio that “the Palestinian Authority asked the government of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to release the prisoners and still the government’s response.”
Al-Sheikh, also member of President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah’s Central Committee, said that “a few Israeli officials expressed positive positions on the matter.”
According to the Palestinian minister, “releasing 123 Palestinian prisoners, I am certain, will provide a good atmosphere, and will encourage the Palestinian leadership to consider its position on the negotiations carefully.”
Al-Sheikh said that an objection to releasing the prisoners would be a political one, as “the Israeli defense system knows there is no security risk in releasing these prisoners.”
He noted that “Israel released 1,500 prisoners in negotiations with Hamas in the Gilad Shalit deal. Can it not give a partner for peace 100 or 123 prisoners? That’s a big question mark.”
The peace talks between Israel and the PA broke down in 2010 because Israel insisted to continue settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
US Secretary of State John Kerry held meetings with Palestinian and Israeli leaders in bid to revive the direct peace talks between Palestinian Authority and Israel, thus far in vain.
The Palestinians insist not to resume any direct or indirect peace talks with Israel before the latter clearly declares a complete cessation of settlement activities in the territories occupied in 1967, including East Jerusalem that Palestinians want the capital of their future state. They also demand the release of 123 Palestinian prisoners.
On Wednesday, Netanyahu commented on the peace process and said that Israel is open to any peace initiative, including Arab Peace Initiative.
“We are ready to discuss any initiative that is a proposal, but not a dictum,” he said.
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