By KUNA,
Gaza : The Israeli government approved Sunday a decision to release 250 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons before Eid.
The approval came during the weekly meeting of the Israeli Cabinet that was headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who called the ministers to agree on the release of the Palestinians as a gesture of good will.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported on its website that “the proposal did not pass without the vocal objection of several ministers.” “This wholesale market of prisoners just delays the release of Gilad Shalit, and damages the social fabric,” the paper quoted Israeli Industry, Trade, and Labor Minister Eli Yishai as saying.
The paper said Olmert will hold later Sunday talks with Israeli security officials on the negotiations on the Israeli soldier held in Gaza.
It pointed out that an Israeli political and security official at the Israeli Defense Ministry, who recently visited Cairo, will brief Olmert on the outcomes of his visit and talks with Egyptian mediators.
The paper quoted a diplomatic source as saying that Hamas did not announce new requests in exchange for Shalit.
According to the paper, Hamas demands the release of 1,400 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.