BICOM

Widespread Israeli reports suggest Israel’s cabinet will be asked on Sunday to approve the release of a second group of Palestinian prisoners, as part of a commitment prior to the restart of peace talks.

In July, Israel agreed to the release of 104 long-term Palestinian prisoners in stages. In August, the first group of twenty six prisoners were released and both Maariv and Yediot Ahronot report that a second group of the same number could be released on Tuesday. Yediot Ahronot said that the proposed group includes “heavyweight” prisoners, without specifying their identities.

Israel Radio news reports that right-wing coalition member Jewish Home will submit a bill on Sunday to prevent the release from taking place. However, both Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom claim the prisoner release will be accompanied by an announcement of new construction plans in East Jerusalem and major West Bank settlement blocs in what would appear to be an attempt to placate right-wing critics over the prisoner release. Yediot Ahronot speculates that the Housing Ministry will announce tenders for the construction of 1,500 new housing units in the Jerusalem neighbourhood of Ramat Shlomo. Jerusalem Post reports that senior Jewish Home leaders have said that it would be preferable not to go ahead with the building given the quid pro quo.

AFP quotes an unnamed Israeli official saying “both the Americans and the Palestinians were aware in advance of these understandings” and that next week’s expected announcements should not be a surprise. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a lengthy meeting in Rome this week with US Secretary of State John Kerry.

In a separate development, Israel will reportedly comply with a Supreme Court ruling next month and hand over the bodies of Palestinian terrorists to their families.