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Sharon Freezes Release of Palestinian Detainees
 Dealing a new blow to the already troubled peace process, Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon decided on Sunday, May 8, to put plans on releasing 400 Palestinian detainees on hold, drawing an angry rebuke from the Palestinians and Egypt. "We cannot approve any measures that ease the lives of Palestinians so long as they are not doing their part," Israeli daily Haaretz quoted Sharon as telling the weekly cabinet meeting.The 400 Palestinian detainees were due to have been released as part of an agreement reached with Palestinian President Mahmmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) at a summit in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh three months ago. An Israeli government spokesman claimed Sharon has taken the decision because "Abu Mazen has not taken any action to decapitate the terrorism which is continuing." He told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that "when the Palestinians start to respect the commitments they made at Sharm El-Sheikh we'll do something, but not before". Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued it was an inappropriate time to be even thinking of releasing Palestinian detainees. Posted by: Fred 2005-05-09 |
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