Israel Holds-off on Fourth Prisoner Release; Consultations and Posturing Follow

As many had feared, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu put a hold on what was to have been the fourth release of Palestinian prisoners – the final 26 of 104 promised to be set free last July in order to jumpstart US Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace mission. In recent days, public opinion in Israel, which has always been opposed to the release of prisoners who had killed, grew more vocal, headed by families of those who lost members to terror. Politically, Netanyahu was concerned that the Palestinians would wait for the final prisoner to be released and then bolt from the Kerry talks. The prime minister framed it as needing to know what his country will get “in exchange” for the painful gesture. Despite threats to turn to the United Nations and International Criminal Court if Israel failed to live up to what the Palestinians see as a firm commitment, there is so far no indication that Palestinian leadership is ready to go that course until Kerry has a chance to weigh-in. One possibility being talked about is the release of an additional 400 prisoners by Israel in return for as yet unknown “exchange” (in Netanyahu’s words).