TEMPO.CO, Tel Aviv – Israel released 26 Palestinian prisoners in a second stage of a deal brokered by the United States earlier in July that brought a resumption to peace talks between Israel and Palestine. Israel said in August that the country would release 104 prisoners in four stages.
Thousands of Palestinians welcomed the released prisoners like heroes after being jailed for more than 15 years for attacks on Israelis.
Previously, right wing allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged not to release any more Palestinian prisoners. Housing Minister Uri Ariel who supports the establishment of Jewish settelement in Palestinian land said that the release of the prisoners "does not contribute to peace, and only leads to more terrorism."
Israel's chief negotiator Justice Minister Tzipin Livni, responded in an interview with Channel 2 that Ariel's party does not want negotiations.
"If they have another solution, let them tell us what it is," he stated.
REUTERS | TRIP B