Netanyahu rejects Palestinian demand for release of detainees

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, still rejects Palestinian demand for the release of all the detainees but offered the release of 25 of them in batches after meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and not before, Palestinian newspaper Al-Ayam today quoted informed sources as saying. Member of the PLO Executive Committee Dr. Saeb Erekat said President Mahmoud Abbas will meet in Ramallah on Sunday Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and leader of Kadima party Shaul Mofaz, noting that the meeting comes at the request of Mofaz and the Palestinian leadership is waiting for what the Mofaz will carry from the Israeli leadership. Observers said Mofaz came with positive answers from Netanyahu regarding the request for the release of 132 Palestinians imprisoned before the Oslo Agreement and allow the introduction of equipment for the security services across the Jordan (donated by Egypt and Russia), that will allow for the convening of a meeting between Abbas and Netanyahu. The United States is looking forward to the results of this meeting in light of what it listened to from Mofaz and Erekat in separate meetings held in Washington over a week ago. The United States believes that the coalition forces in Israel allows for Netanyahu to take steps toward peace with the Palestinians without being influenced by his coalition government, where he previously tried to justify his failure to move the fragility of his coalition government.