Poll: Palestinians Would Trade Extension of Talks for Additional Prisoner Release

Against the backdrop of intense speculation about whether or not Israel will go through with the final phase of the prisoner release, a Palestinian pollster said the populace favors extending the Kerry talks in return for Israel releasing additional prisoners. The Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research asked 1,200 Palestinians how they felt and said 65% believe extending talks until the end the year in exchange for more prisoners. Some Israeli lawmakers have tried to make the final phase of the prisoner release a condition for releasing the final 26 from the initial commitment of 104. 51% of the Palestinians polled favored extending talks in response to an Israeli freeze on construction in post-1967 areas.  [NOTE: Hear interview with Hilik Bar, the legislator behind the suggested “gesture-switch”. Link follows below.]