Israel to release Palestinian prisoners Tuesday night

Sources say 26 prisoners will be released at night to minimize Palestinian celebrations, but date not finalized yet. Palestinians still to be notified

Elior Levy|Published: 08.12.13 , 20:23

An Israeli source said that the release of the 26 Palestinian prisoners to be freed as a gesture to the Palestinian Authority ahead of the resumption of peace talks will take place on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Jerusalem told Ynet that the release could be delayed in the case of unexpected developments or surprises, and hence there has yet to be official confirmation of the date and time.

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Israel prefers the release take place at night in a bid to minimize Palestinian celebrations and prevent mass participation on their part.

The list includes 14 prisoners to be released into the Gaza Strip, some of them Hamas members.

Among the 26 to be released are Abu Moussa Salam Ali Atiya, jailed since '94, for the murder of Holocaust survivor Isaac Rotenberg, Kor Mattawa Hamad Faiz, jailed since '85, for the murder of Menahem Dadon and attempted murder of Salomon Abukasis, and Salah Ibrahim Ahmad Mughdad, jailed since '93, for the murder of Israel Tenenbaum.

The cabinet decision to release prisoners was accompanied by wide public debate and protests by the bereaved families.

Families of terror victims have demonstrated on several occasion, and also visited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier on Monday.

"We're paying the price of the PM and the political echelon's fear, a price of blood and further victims," a protestor said in a Tel Aviv protest on Monday.