News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) A ministerial panel will meet on Monday to discuss the release of Arab terrorist prisoners, with a view toward relaxing criteria for such releases to facilitate a ransom deal with Hamas for abducted soldier Gilad Shalit. Monday's meeting, however, will focus on the release of prisoners as a "goodwill gesture" to PA-Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas.

Vice Premier Chaim Ramon heads the committee, which also includes Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, and Minister without Portfolio Ami Ayalon.

Dichter said Thursday that the prisoners to be released as a "gesture" to Abbas are not the prisoners who were expected to be released in a deal with Hamas for Shalit. Dichter said the "parameters" and "numbers" to be involved in the Shalit deal would be different.