Israel's Release of Palestinian Prisoners: Deja Vu All Over Again
The release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel seems to be settling into a routine; two more releases are to take place after this one.
It seems like an old, scratchy record: Everyone seems to know what to do and what to say. It first started with disinformation followed by governmental maneuvering and ended with a government decision. Now all that everyone is waiting for is the expiration of the mandatory 48 hours.
The issue is the second group of Palestinian prisoners set to be released under an agreement reached on the eve of the Palestinian-Israeli talks. Palestinians agreed to suspend all attempts to join international organizations as a state in return for Israel releasing 104 prisoners held before the signing of the Oslo Accords in 1993.
Just as in the previous round, the trouble began with a barrage of articles, protests and statements opposing the release of what Israeli media call “Palestinian terrorists.” The attacks were then followed by an attempt to suggest further Jewish settlement as a quid pro quo for the release of Palestinian prisoners. Furthermore, some Israeli radicals also suggested that released prisoners be deported rather than be allowed to go to their homes.
Palestinian leaders, who are aware that radical statements can quickly translate into policy, are trying to stop the problem in its infancy before some mainstream officials feel obliged by public pressure to respond.
