U.S. pressures Israel to release Palestinians

Israeli officials said yesterday they may release jailed Palestinians after the death of Yasser Arafat as a “good will gesture” toward the future PA leadership. Sources tell WorldNetDaily the decision comes amid heightened pressure from the U.S.

Unnamed senior Israeli officials were quoted by Army Radio as saying the possible prisoner release is “intended to strengthen the moderate leadership within the Palestinian National Authority.”

The release, they said, is considered favorable to Israeli Foreign and Defense Ministries, but the final decision rests with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

Sources tell WorldNetDaily U.S. officials have recently been sending strong messages to Israel indicating the Jewish state should take certain measures, such as prisoner releases, that could strengthen the new Palestinian leadership in a succession phase.

Sharon, however, is not warm to the idea.

Israel is also considering a host of other “gestures.” A foreign ministry paper urges the IDF to go into “defensive mode” and not launch pre-emptive strikes against terrorist organizations for the time being. Other planned moves include further easing restrictions on Palestinian movement and encouraging economic activity.

With Arafat leaving the political scene for good, some are worried Israel may be pressured to negotiate with a “changed Palestinian leadership” and make concessions in exchange for promises of peace along the same lines as the failed Oslo Accords.

Senior Sharon spokesperson Raanan Gissin told WorldNetDaily Israel will approach the new leadership carefully.

“We fully recognize that the Palestinians might not make the right decisions or might try to claim reform but still back the path to terror.” Gissin said. “We are dealing with only the [U.S.-backed] roadmap, which requires real action on the part of the Palestinians before they can progress forward. If they don’t fulfill their obligations of dismantling terrorism, stopping incitement … then they will be treated no differently than Arafat has been treated the past few years.”