(19 Nov 2007)
1. Exterior of Israeli Prime Minister's office
2. Ministers entering meeting
3. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert entering meeting
4. Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit talking to journalists
5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Meir Sheetrit, Israeli Interior Minister:
"I am supporting the release of prisoners. I think it is a building step towards the Palestinians. I am for helping Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and his constituency, but I hope that the return and the reciprocity from the Palestinians will be, as well, strong enough to fight the terrorism and the disorder which exists today in the West Bank at least."
6. Wide of Israeli cabinet
7. Close-up of Israeli Vice Premier Haim Ramon
8. SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew) Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister:
"The negotiations will start after Annapolis and it will be very intensive, very serious. It will deal with all the core issues that are a part of the process that has to lead to two nation states and two nations."
9. Close-up of Sheetrit
10. Close-up of Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni
11. Pan left of Cabinet meeting
STORYLINE:
The Israeli Cabinet met in Jerusalem on Monday to debate the release of Palestinian prisoners, while Israeli and Palestinian leaders were due to meet later in the day, ahead of next week's Mideast conference in the United States.
On the agenda at the weekly Cabinet session was a proposal to release 450 Palestinian prisoners of about 9,000 Israel is holding.
Hardliners in the Cabinet were opposed, while Palestinians demanded freedom for at least 2,000.
"I am supporting the release of prisoners. I think it is a building step towards the Palestinians," Israeli Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit said.
"I hope that the return and the reciprocity from the Palestinians will be, as well, strong enough to fight the terrorism and the disorder which exists today in the West Bank at least," he added.
With the Mideast conference set tentatively for next week in Annapolis, in the United States, Israel and the Palestinians have so far failed to reach any prior agreements.
At the Cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: "The negotiations will start after Annapolis and it will be very intensive, very serious. It will deal with all the core issues that are a part of the process that has to lead to two nation states and two nations."
Olmert was to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jerusalem on Monday - the latest in a series of summit meetings to coordinate
positions.
Olmert's office also said he's scheduled to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday to coordinate positions ahead of the US-hosted conference.
On Sunday, Israeli officials said the US was pushing for an Israeli pledge to halt all construction in West Bank settlements as a prelude to the
Annapolis meeting.
Palestinians have long made that demand, and Israel committed to that when it accepted the "road map" peace plan in 2003. Since then, however, Israel has insisted on the right to expand it settlements to account for "natural growth".

Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ] ​​
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]


You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]

свернуть