With the deadline in the latest round of negotiations between Israel and the PA (Palestinian Authority) is nearing, some cabinet ministers are signaling the deadline is not going to be extended. Some are stating that the last prisoner release will not take place as PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has stopped the negotiations.

Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Wednesday morning 17 Adar II reported that Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who heads the Israeli negotiating team, denies the prisoner release is in jeopardy due to her dissatisfaction with the talks.

Yisrael Hayom reports that after meetings in Washington between Abu Mazen and US President Barak Obama, Israel is threatening that if the talks are not extended for an additional year the fourth and final terrorist release in this round of talks will be canceled.

In the meantime, the PA has released a list of terrorists slated for release, including 14 Israeli Arab citizens, with some of the latter living in Ramle, Kfar Kassam, and Um el-Fahm.

There appears to be a growing opposition to a fourth release as it is now abundantly clear to more Israelis that so-called negotiations are simply unilateral concessions to the PA by Israel and mounting PA defiance in response to Israeli negotiating demands.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)