Israel will release 199 Palestinian prisoners in the West Bank at 9:30 A.M. on Monday, as a gesture of goodwill to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
The state on Sunday responded to appeals against the prisoner release by saying only the cabinet has the authority to revoke such a decision.
The cabinet voted last week in favor of the release, which includes two prisoners convicted of murdering Israelis - both of whom have already spent nearly 30 years in jail - plus 197 convicted of lesser offenses, including attempted murder.
The prisoners will be released on the same day U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrives in the region for talks on the peace process. |