Abbas optimistic: Sunday to bring good news for prisoners
As Israel confirms government to vote on peace talks, prisoner release, in Ramallah press conference, Palestinian president says Sunday will bring good news for prisoners held in Israeli jails
The Israeli cabinet is slated to authorize the beginning of peace talks, as part of its weekly meeting on Sunday, and form a special ministerial committee charged with prisoner release.
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A Israeli senior official source told Ynet that the government will vote on an initiative to release prisoners held since before the Oslo Accords and form a ministerial committee to deal with the matter on Sunday.
A total of 104 prisoners are expected to be released and according to the source this number is higher that previously assumed. The committee, which will be headed by Netanyahu will decided on the identity of the prisoners and their release date.
Abbas talks with PA officials after talks with Kerry (Photo: EPA)
Durring the press confrence, Abbas seemed optimistic and told reports to follow Israeli news reports on Sunday. According to him, the reports will bear good news regarding the prisoners.
Abbas also confirmed for the first time that Palestinian and Israeli delegations are in fact scheduled to meet in Washington for the first round of peace talks on Tuesday.
He also noted the talks will be held under the auspices of the United States, which will supervise and mediate the talks, with US representatives present inside the negotiation rooms.
The Palestinian president also commented on Palestinian opposition to the renewal of peace talks and said that even when the Palestinians petitioned the UN to grant them statehood there were voices of dissent from within the Palestinian camp which quickly silenced when the initiative achieved success.
Abbas also noted the Palestinians have an additional plan should negotiations fail; however, he failed to offer further details, hinting they are connected to UN institutions.
Despite reports that 104 prisoners, including Israeli Arabs, are on the list for release, a senior official told Ynet Friday that the number of the prisoners has yet to be determined.
Furthermore, the source added, a ministerial committee, which is expected to be formed on Sunday, "will be authorized to approve the lists of prisoners, and they will discuss who is to be released, when and at which stage of the negotiations. The final number (of prisoners) is not clear yet, though we know who are the prisoners who were detained before the Oslo Accords."
As for the issue of Israeli Arabs, the source told Ynet that "Israeli Arabs were released in the past… the preoccupation with the issue of Israeli prisoners has been blown out of proportion."
Attila Somfalvi contributed to this report
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