Ynet poll: Government to approve prisoner release
Although Gilad Shalit is still held captive, survey conducted by Ynet among ministers reveals government will approve release of Palestinian prisoners even before he is freed. Twelve ministers say they are in favor of release, five are against it
Five ministers, including two deputy prime ministers, oppose the Israeli gesture. Another five ministers abstained, and two ministers have yet to answer.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sought to hold a discussion on the release of Palestinian prisoners ahead of Eid al-Adha on Tuesday, following his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in which PLO official Saeb Erekat asked Olmert for a gesture, in spite of the fact that Abbas is incapable of promoting Shalit's release.
Olmert promised the Palestinians to look into the issue, and held a mini-survey during Sunday's cabinet meeting. Cabinet Secretary Israel Maimon said that a date for the urgent meeting has yet to be set, ahead of the Muslim holiday which will take place during the weekend.
Supporters and opposers
The Ynet poll revealed that the ministers in favor of releasing Palestinians ahead of Eid al-Adha are: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, Vice Premier Shimon Peres, Minister Eitan Cabel, Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon, Minister Yitzhak Cohen, Minister Jacob Edery, Environment Minister Gideon Ezra, Minister Meshulam Nahari, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz and Tourism Minister Isaac Herzog.
Deputy Defense Minister Ephraim Sneh also supports the release.
The ministers who oppose the gesture of releasing Palestinian prisoners before Shalit's release are: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Strategic Affairs Avigdor Lieberman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor Eliyahu Yishai, Minister of Immigrant Absorption Ze'ev Boim, Housing and Construction Minister Meir Sheetrit and Communications Minister Ariel Atias.
Five ministers are still sitting on the fence and are avoiding making a decision at this point: Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Finance Minister Abraham Hirchson, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, Minister of Pensioners Affairs Rafi Eitan and National Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer.
Two ministers have yet to answer the Ynet poll: Education Minister Yuli Tamir and Interior Minister Ronnie Bar-On.
Minister Shalom Simhon (Labor) was among the ministers who supported the release of Palestinian prisoners although Shalit is still held captive.
"I support the move in a bid to create the beginning of a positive process with the Palestinians in general, and on the Shalit issue in particular," he explained.
Another supporter, Minister Eitan Cabel (Labor), said that "the Palestinian prisoners must be freed as a gesture, regardless of Shalit's release, in order to strengthen the moderates in the Palestinian Authority."
Minister Yitzhak Cohen (Shas), another supporter, said, "I am in favor of releasing the Palestinian prisoners as part of a process which will eventually lead to Shalit's release."
Minister Jacob Edery (Kadima), who also supports the move, said that "this is a one-time gesture which will only include women and children and will promote the release of the kidnapped soldier held in Gaza."
"The release of prisoners during Muslim holidays is an accepted gesture," Minister Gideon Ezra (Kadima) explained his support of the controversial move.
"I am in favor of a declaration of intent to release Palestinians for Abu Mazen (Abbas), and definitely if this could promote the release of Gilad Shalit," Minister Meshulam Nahari (Shas) told Ynet.
'It will be perceived as weakness'
Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Israel Our Home), who leads those who oppose the gesture, said that "any gesture of good will, in the current proposed format, will not bolster Abu Mazen. On the contrary, it will be perceived by the Palestinians as another Israeli weakness."
Minister Eliyahi Yishai (Shas) claimed that "even if this was accepted in the past, we must not release prisoners in a situation in which an Israeli soldier is kidnapped in Gaza. We can only consider it if the Palestinians present the horizon leading to Shalit's release, and even then it will be a list of older prisoners, women and children."
Another strong opposer was Minister Ariel Atias (Shas), who said that "we said we will not negotiate on the release of prisoners while a kidnapped soldier is in Gaza. This places us in a very bad situation. Even if we want to strengthen Abu Mazen, releasing a small number of prisoners will not bolster him, but might even weaken him."
Minister Meit Sheetrit (Kadima) presented a firmer stance: "We must not release Palestinian prisoners as long as Gilad Shalit is held in the Gaza Strip. There is no room for gestures on this issue."
