Olmert refuses conditions to release Palestinian prisoners contrary to earlier reports

January 2, 2006

Nazareth - Israeli premier Ehud Olmert on Monday declared that contrary to media reports over the past few days there was no progress achieved in the issue of the prisoners’ exchange between his government and the Palestinian resistance factions capturing IOF soldier Gilad Shalit.

The Hebrew radio quoted Olmert as saying during a consultative meeting with security commanders that the Hamas Movement was still insisting on “unacceptable” demands atop of which the release of 1400 Palestinian prisoners.

The premier concluded that his government would not release any prisoner at present especially the number demanded by Hamas.

For his part, Dr. Ahmed Yousef, the advisor to PA premier Ismail Haneyya, said in a press release on Monday that Israel as usual reneges on pledges.

He said that a deal was about to be struck between the two parties with the start of 2007 stipulating among other things the immediate release of 270 Palestinian women and minors from Israeli occupation jails in return for the release of Shalit to be followed by releasing two other batches of Palestinian captives 500 then 650 respectively.