From THE JERUSALEM POST, Dec. 24, 2006 ...
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked ministers in a cabinet meeting on Sunday whether Israel should agree to release security prisoners as a gesture of goodwill .....
The issue was raised following a request from Abbas to release prisoners ahead of the Muslim holiday Id al-Adha, Israel Radio reported.
...Three ministers supported the release of some prisoners.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres said that releasing prisoners would strengthen ties with the moderate factions in the Palestinian Authority. Defense Minister Amir Peretz said the gesture was welcome and should not be dependent on the release of Shalit, while Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz stated that Israel has acted similarly in the past and there was no reason to deny Abbas's request.
Noam Shalit, father of the kidnapped IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit, expressed ...his dissatisfaction with the government's dealing with his son's kidnapping. ....Shalit said he feels ignored by the Prime Minister's Office.
...The issue of a prisoner swap was raised at Olmert's earlier meeting with Abbas, but no agreement was reached on the subject.
The issue of releasing prisoners followed a decision reached by Olmert and Abbas to release $100 million in tax revenue to the PA, a decision unanimously approved by the cabinet.
The Knesset is to convene Sunday evening to vote on Abbas's request for releasing prisoners.
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