Israeli court OKs prisoner release

Israel's High Court of Justice rejected a petition to block the release of 26 Palestinian prisoners, paving their way to freedom. The court found there was no basis to block the government's decision to free the prisoners after studying a petition filed by the Almagor Terrorist Victims Association, Israel Radio and The Jerusalem Post said Tuesday. The court ruling lifted the last stumbling block and paved the way for the release of the prisoners, Israeli officials said. The officials said Israel wants to avoid images of prisoners showing the victory sign as they are being released and intends to free them just past midnight early Wednesday, Israel Radio said. "Despite this, all that is before us is the legal question of whether there is any basis to get involved in the government's decision to release prisoners in the framework of peace talks with the Palestinians," the court said. The court noted while it understands the issue is a "sensitive and complicated one which lies at the heart of a public dispute," it found no reason to prevent the prisoner release. "Our hearts go out to the families of the terror victims, whose anguish is greatest and about which we can do nothing to heal," the court was quoted as saying by The Jerusalem Post said. The court described the release of prisoners guilty of committing grave crimes "the hardest kind of decision." The 26 prisoners, meanwhile, were segregated at the Ayalon Prison in Ramle in central Israel where they underwent identification and medical checks. It was unclear whether they would be forced to sign a waiver agreeing not to wage attacks against Israel, a requirement for Palestinian prisoners released in past exchanges, Ynetnews.com said. Twelve Palestinians will be released via the Beituniya crossing to Ramallah in the West Bank and 14 will be taken to the Erez Crossing and returned to Gaza, the prime minister's office said As a gesture to the Palestinians ahead of the resumption of talks, Israel agreed to release 104 Palestinian prisoners in four batches in the nine-month negotiation period. Palestinian officials estimate there are some 5,071 Palestinians in Israeli custody, Ma'an news agency said. Talks between Israel and the Palestinians are to resume in Jerusalem Wednesday.