The Cabinet voted by a 14-9 margin today to support PM Sharon's proposal to release 110 Hamas terrorists from prison. Ministers Netanyahu, Livni, and Naveh, who had been wavering, voted in favor.
Health Minister Dan Naveh explained afterwards that it's important that Prime Minister Sharon not go "limping into Washington." There's no difference between "the rotten villains of Hamas and those of other organizations," he said.
Voting against the proposal were Ministers Eitam and Orlev of the NRP, Ministers Lieberman and Elon of the National Union, and Ministers Livnat, Katz, Landau, Sharansky and HaNegbi of the Likud.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz clarified afterwards that terrorists "with blood on their hands" will not be freed. Some of the 110 were involved in kidnapping and/or wounding Israelis, and some were sentenced to 5-10 years before the outbreak of the Oslo War almost three years ago. Others are top administrative leaders of Hamas, those who dealt with the transfer of money from abroad, and those who gave military training to budding young terrorist. The latest 110 come in addition to 400 prisoners who release has already been decided upon.
Hamas issued a response minutes after today's Cabinet vote: "We don't want 100 here or 100 there; we demand the release of *all* the Palestinian prisoners."
Before today's Cabinet session, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met with the Likud Party government ministers in an attempt to convince them to support his proposal to release 100 Hamas terrorists from prison.
The family of Azzam Azzam, an Israeli Druze imprisoned in Egypt for seven years on espionage charges, protested today outside the American Embassy in Tel Aviv. The family is incensed that though Israel is releasing hundreds of security prisoners, it does not demand that Egypt release Azzam, whose conviction Israel has long contested. MK Ayoub Kara of the Likud, also a member of the Druze community, joined in the protest.