Israel has agreed to release Palestinian prisoners for the renewal of peace talks, but it will not agree to meet other key Palestinian demands, including a freeze on settlement building in the West Bank, Intelligence and Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz said Saturday.
“There will be some release of prisoners,” Steinitz told Israel Radio. He declined to specify the number, only saying that some of the prisoners are slated to include “heavyweight inmates who have been in jail for many years” and would be released in phases.
The confirmation came after US Secretary of State John Kerry announced Friday night that a long-anticipated agreement has been reached on the resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians following a three-year stalemate.