A list of Palestinian Authority terrorist prisoners that <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Israel is willing to free in exchange for the release of IDF Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit was submitted Thursday by the Ramon Committee to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, but the action was discounted by Hamas terrorists as meaningless.

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The committee, headed by Vice Premier Chaim Ramon, submitted 450 names -- half of the total number of prisoners whose freedom was demanded by the Hamas terrorist organization.

 

Talks were stalled last month after Hamas lost faith in the objectivity of the Egyptian mediators, but the committee reconvened a final time nevertheless.

 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who has since replaced Olmert as head of the Kadima party, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, Environmental Protection Minister Gideon Ezra (who spent almost 30 years with the Israel Security Agency / Shin Bet) and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, a former Shin Bet director.

 

The committee also revised the criteria for the definition of terrorists with "blood on their hands" in order to broaden the eligibility standards for terrorists to be released.

 

Hamas Scorns List, Says Israel 'Not Serious'

Hamas terrorists responded to the news of Israel's release of the scorn on Thursday.

 

"Israel continues its policies of stalling and playing games," claimed Gaza-based Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. "They're not serious about resolving the Shalit matter. What the Israelis have approved cannot be called progress. It is only another Israeli manipulation."

 

Hamas abandoned the indirect negotiations through Egyptian mediators amid rumors the group felt Egypt was biased due to what a splinter group said was American pressure applied through the rival Fatah faction.