The committee is to convene after the summit in Sharm a-Sheikh on Tuesday.
Israel has informed the PA that it would agree to release 500 terrorist prisoners as soon as an agreement is reached, and 400 more three months from now. The Palestinian Authority continues to demand that Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists, and even murderers, be included in these numbers. PA negotiators say that no ceasefire can be implemented until Israel agrees to this condition.
However, it all depends on President Moshe Katzav. No prisoners can be released before completing their sentence without a presidential pardon – and Katzav informed Prime Minister Sharon on Friday that he opposes giving it to terrorists who murdered Israelis. He says, though, that he will address each case on its own merits.
Opinions within the security cabinet on the release of terrorist murderers differ widely. Labor's Chaim Ramon is in favor, and Shimon Peres feels that Israel's long-standing position against the release is "outdated." Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon lean towards favoring the release, while Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu objects to the release of murderers. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom says that the release of any Hamas prisoners at all will "damage our explanatory efforts abroad" to have Hamas outlawed as a terrorist organization. Prime Minister Sharon is said to favor the release of terrorists with blood on their hands, but only at a later date; at present, he sides with GSS head Avi Dichter's position against releasing murderers.
Sharon dispelled rumors today that the murderers of Tourism Minister Maj.-Gen. (res.) Rehavam (Gandhi) Ze'evi would be released. "That is not on the agenda," Sharon said.
"Israel's decision and criteria are not acceptable," said today Hisham Abdel Razek, who is responsible for the prisoners issue in the Palestinian Authority. "This position will not allow Abu Mazen to succeed in declaring a ceasefire... even in Israel there are security personnel who say that the long-time prisoners [i.e., those with blood on their hands – ed.] should be released. [To say otherwise] is a racist differentiation; we're in a conflict, not on soccer field, and there were sacrifices on both sides..."
Former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) told Army Radio this morning, "I hope that the committee will look positively at the release of prisoners with blood on hands... First, however, public opinion must be prepared; the problem today is to look at the parents in the eyes... This is a very sensitive issue, but I believe that in the end, it will happen."
The popular struggle against the release of terrorists is being led by the Almagor Terror Victims Association, which has led similar campaigns in the past. The families of terrorist victims demand to see the list of terrorists to be released – which has not yet been compiled – and to have it publicized.
President Moshe Katzav said he would be willing to approve the release of prisoners "with blood on their hands" only for humanitarian reasons, such as old age or bad health.
Abu Mazen is said to be interested specifically in three terrorists - aged 60 and up - who were imprisoned for murder before the signing of the Oslo Accords in September 1993. A total of 237 terrorists have been imprisoned since before the signing, and all but four have "blood on their hands."
Israel has informed the PA that it would agree to release 500 terrorist prisoners as soon as an agreement is reached, and 400 more three months from now. The Palestinian Authority continues to demand that Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists, and even murderers, be included in these numbers. PA negotiators say that no ceasefire can be implemented until Israel agrees to this condition.
However, it all depends on President Moshe Katzav. No prisoners can be released before completing their sentence without a presidential pardon – and Katzav informed Prime Minister Sharon on Friday that he opposes giving it to terrorists who murdered Israelis. He says, though, that he will address each case on its own merits.
Opinions within the security cabinet on the release of terrorist murderers differ widely. Labor's Chaim Ramon is in favor, and Shimon Peres feels that Israel's long-standing position against the release is "outdated." Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon lean towards favoring the release, while Finance Minister Binyamin Netanyahu objects to the release of murderers. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom says that the release of any Hamas prisoners at all will "damage our explanatory efforts abroad" to have Hamas outlawed as a terrorist organization. Prime Minister Sharon is said to favor the release of terrorists with blood on their hands, but only at a later date; at present, he sides with GSS head Avi Dichter's position against releasing murderers.
Sharon dispelled rumors today that the murderers of Tourism Minister Maj.-Gen. (res.) Rehavam (Gandhi) Ze'evi would be released. "That is not on the agenda," Sharon said.
"Israel's decision and criteria are not acceptable," said today Hisham Abdel Razek, who is responsible for the prisoners issue in the Palestinian Authority. "This position will not allow Abu Mazen to succeed in declaring a ceasefire... even in Israel there are security personnel who say that the long-time prisoners [i.e., those with blood on their hands – ed.] should be released. [To say otherwise] is a racist differentiation; we're in a conflict, not on soccer field, and there were sacrifices on both sides..."
Former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) told Army Radio this morning, "I hope that the committee will look positively at the release of prisoners with blood on hands... First, however, public opinion must be prepared; the problem today is to look at the parents in the eyes... This is a very sensitive issue, but I believe that in the end, it will happen."
The popular struggle against the release of terrorists is being led by the Almagor Terror Victims Association, which has led similar campaigns in the past. The families of terrorist victims demand to see the list of terrorists to be released – which has not yet been compiled – and to have it publicized.
President Moshe Katzav said he would be willing to approve the release of prisoners "with blood on their hands" only for humanitarian reasons, such as old age or bad health.
Abu Mazen is said to be interested specifically in three terrorists - aged 60 and up - who were imprisoned for murder before the signing of the Oslo Accords in September 1993. A total of 237 terrorists have been imprisoned since before the signing, and all but four have "blood on their hands."