Israeli daily, Maariv, has reported that Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, allegedly presented an ‘offer’ to release around 104 Palestinian detainees before the resumption of peace talks, and without a Palestinian commitment to resume direct talks with Tel Aviv.The paper said that approximately 40 of those detainees are what Israel labels as “prisoners with blood on their hands”, referring to detainees accused to killing Israelis, or believed to be behind attacks that led to casualties.
Maariv said that the new stance of Netanyahu is considered a fundamental change, as he always refused “to pay the price of convincing the Palestinian side to return to the negotiations table”, according to the paper.
Sources in Washington have reported that U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, and Netanyahu are waiting a response from Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas.
The Israeli “offer” states that Israel would release the 104 detainees on stages in the future, after the resumption of peace talks.
According to Maariv, the detainees could be released soon, during the Holy Muslim month of Ramadan that started a day ago.
The Palestinian leadership in the West Bank quit direct peace talks with Tel Aviv due to Israel’s ongoing violations, invasions and its ongoing illegal settlement construction and expansion activities in the occupied West Bank, including in occupied East Jerusalem.
Israel is also failing to accept holding talks on vital final status issues, such as Jerusalem, the Right of Return of the Palestinian Refugees, borders and natural resources.
