By NNN-KUNA,
Gaza : The Israeli government has approved a decision to release 250 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons before the Eid Al-Adha.
The approval was granted Sunday at the weekly meeting of the Israeli Cabinet that was headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert who called on the ministers to agree to the release of the Palestinians as a gesture of goodwill.
The 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 Labour Minister Eli Yishai as saying.
The paper said Olmert was scheduled to hold talks later in the day 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 Defence Ministry, who recently visited Cairo, will brief Olmert on the outcome 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.