Israeli sources: POWs release pending a Levni-Erekat meeting

Well-informed Israeli sources disclosed that 80 long-term Palestinian POWs some of whom had been sentenced before signing the Oslo Agreement are expected to be released as a goodwill gesture by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. "Radio Israel" this morning (Sunday: July 21, 2013) reported that the POWs will be released with the next few days should a meeting between Israeli Minister Tsevi Levni with the chief Palestinian negotiator Saaib Erekat culminates in positive results. The source pointed out that the Israeli cabinet is likely to empower its PM next week with power to release Palestinian prisoners. Israeli security sources said that the Israeli War Minister, Moshe Ya'lon, partook in taking the decision regarding the releasing of Palestinian prisoners, and considered the releasing does not constitute any threat to Israeli security. The same sources pointed out that its has not been decided yet when to convene the first meeting between the two sides. Meanwhile, Israeli political sources confirmed that the negotiations will start from "point scratch" and not from the point where negotiations stopped during the tenure of former Israeli premier Ehud Olmert.