The cabinet on Sunday is expected to approve the release of 5 prisoners in the next stage of the Regev-Goldwasser prisoner exchange deal. While Hizbullah expected a larger number of “Palestinian prisoners” to be released, reports from the Prime Minister’s Office state Prime Minister Ehud Olmert acting on recommendations of the defense/intelligence communities has limited the number since Hizbullah was not forthcoming regarding the terror organization’s responsibility to provide new information on Ron Arad.

The five who will be selected will be those not having “blood on their hands,” officials report on Sunday morning. The release of the additional prisoners is a “good-will” gesture to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)