Palestinian prisoners' release may be delayed

Supreme Court Justice Elyakim Rubinstein ordered the State to reply to a petition filed against the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners by 7:45 am on Monday.

The petition was filed by the Gush Etzion Regional Council and the legal center for terror research and challenged Israel's pledge to release the prisoners as a goodwill gesture to the Palestinian Authority, in honor of Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Festival of Sacrifice.

The petition included the list of prisoners slated to be released, claiming the process as a whole was flawed. The petitioners also asked the court for a temporary injunction to stop Monday's release.

Judge Rubinstein originally ruled that a temporary injunction was unwarranted and gave the State 21 days to reply. The petitioners' appealed the ruling, prompting Rubinstein to de facto delay the move altogether.

He further ruled that that "the transfer (of the prisoners) will not take place prior to a court ruling on the matter."

The Palestinian prisoners were slated to be released at 9:30 am on Monday. The Israeli Prison Service has moved the majority of the prisoners to the Ofer Prison, which is near the West Bank city of Ramallah. Eighteen additional prisoners have been moved to the Shikma Prison, near Ashkelon.

Prior to being moved, the prisoners were duly identified; they underwent medical examinations and met with representatives of the Red Cross. Before leaving the prisons, they must pledge, in writing, to cease all terror activities.

Once out, they are to be transported through the Bitunia checkpoint to the West Bank and via Erez crossing to the Gaza Strip.

Raanan Ben-Zur contributed to this report