Palestinian official: Israel violates criteria set for releasing prisoners

The Palestinian National Authority said Monday that Israel did not abide by the criteria agreed upon by both sides concerning the release of some prisoners. The 26 prisoners, which Israel will release on Tuesday, do not include inmates from Jerusalem and Arab residents of Israel, said Ziad Abu Ein, deputy minister of prisoners' affairs. "This is a discrimination based on geography and demonstrates an Israeli violation of the criteria," Abu Ein told Xinhua, but adding that the release of any prisoner is "a Palestinian gain that help peace talks make progress." The decision to release prisoners, who were detained before the 1993 Oslo peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians, was part of U.S. efforts to revive the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations after a three-year freeze. The first round of talks was held in Washington last month, and the next round will take place on Wednesday. Israel will release 104 prisoners through four phases, depending on the progress the negotiations.