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Israeli PM Ariel Sharon sits as he reads his opening statement during today's weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Among the items on the agenda: the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners to PA authority. (AP)
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| By israelinsider staff and partners May 8, 2005 |
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Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said that Israel will not release any more Palestinian prisoners until the Palestinian Authority "fulfills its commitment to crack down on the terror organizations.
"We cannot approve any measures that ease the lives of Palestinians so long as they are not doing their part," said Sharon, during the weekly Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
The issue was raised during the Cabinet meeting by Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Dan Naveh (Likud).
"We must not release Palestinian prisoners as long as [Palestinians] are firing mortar shells and shooting at Israeli civilians, and Abu Mazen [PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas] is doing nothing to stop it," said Netanyahu.
The joint PA-Israel prisoners committee is also scheduled to meet today to discuss the criteria for the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons.
Sharon asked Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who will take part in the meeting, to make clear to the PA representatives that "we do not intend to live under fire."
Representatives of the PA are expected to demand an easing of the criteria, although most Israeli ministers are set to oppose any changes.
Naveh, who serves on the joint committee, said additional prisoners should not be released until Abbas acts to stop Qassam rocket attacks on the hard-hit southern city of Sderot. This, according to a report on Israel Radio.
The planned release, announced last week by Livni, comes after the release of 500 prisoners following the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in February.
Following the PA election that put Abbas at the head of the PA in January, the Israeli cabinet approved a series of goodwill measures including the release of some 900 Palestinian prisoners with "no blood on their hands," who were not involved in any acts of violence against Israelis.
PM Sharon had confirmed last week that Israel intends to release more security prisoners.
The AP contributed to this report.
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