Palestinians reject Israel's release of 50 prisoners for resuming peace talks

The Palestinian National Authority rejected Israel's offer to free 50 Palestinian prisoners in exchange of resuming the peace talks, the Walla! News website reported on Monday. A source close to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Israel's proposal was not accepted as the authority insists on the release of 107 Palestinian prisoners who have been jailed for many years in Israel's prisons, according to the report. The report added that the Israel's proposal was made a year ago and Israel planned to release the 50 prisoners in three stages -- 25 prisoners, then 15 prisoners and then 10. In return, Israel demanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meet with Abbas. Israel's prime minister bureau refused to comment on the report. There are about 4,500 Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel's prisons for security reasons, and 107 of them have been behind bars prior to the 1993 Oslo Accords.