Israeli Cabinet Agrees to Release Palestinian Prisoners

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, July 07, 2003

Israeli Cabinet Agrees to Release Palestinian Prisoners

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The Israeli cabinet voted 13-8 Sunday afternoon to approve the release of Palestinian prisoners whose identities would be determined according to the criteria recommended by the Shin Bet security agency, Israel Radio reported.

Under the Shin Bet criteria approved by the cabinet, murderers, people who have caused grievous bodily harm, "fresh" detainees and members of opposition groups would not be freed.

Israeli security sources explained that the would-be release list does not include prisoners who have been convicted of the murder of Israelis, or any belonging to militant groups, such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The Israeli authority currently holds some 6,000 Palestinian prisoners and political sources said about 300 prisoners will be eligible for release under the criteria.

Attorney-General Elyakim Rubinstein has asked Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to publicize the list of prisoners to be released 48 hours before the release, in order to allow the families of terror victims time to appeal the decision.

However, senior Palestinian officials warned that the Palestinian side would withdraw from the roadmap peace plan should Israel doesn't decide in principle to release all detainees, Army Radio reported.

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