Israel Commutes Sentences of Arabs Jailed Before Oslo, Including Killers

Israeli President Shimon Peres on Monday commuted the sentences of seven Arab prisoners jailed before the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993, including prisoners serving life sentences for murder. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been pressing for their release and recently set the commutations as a demand in return for which he would meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. There was no word on whether that meeting has now been set. The commutations have been presented exclusively as a judicial function emanating from the Justice Ministry and have not been presented in a political context despite the undeniable link.