Israel is not planning to free Palestinian prisoners ahead of the Islamic feast of Eid Al-Adha, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office has said. "For the moment, there is no release" planned for the holiday, which is marked by Muslims variously between Saturday and Tuesday, Olmert's spokeswoman Miri Eisin said Friday.
The Palestinian Authority said it regretted the decision."Not releasing prisoners on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha is unfortunate," Saeb Erakat, chief Palestinian negotiator, told AFP. "It would have been something very positive on Israel's part."
Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres also criticized the decision, saying Israel should make a "gesture" on the occasion of the Islamic feast. Peres said he did not see "a reason not to liberate several dozen Palestinian prisoners on this occasion, like Israeli prime ministers have done in the past."
