BICOM

Tensions between coalition members continued yesterday with Israel set to release a group of 26 long-term Palestinian prisoners later tonight, part of a commitment made to the Palestinian Authority (PA) prior to the restart of peace negotiations this summer.

On Sunday, a special ministerial committee approved the release, the second stage in the overall release of 104 Palestinian prisoners, which Israel agreed in July in order to pave the way for the resumption of peace talks.  The Jewish Home party, a coalition member, failed in an attempt to nix the release when its bill to prohibit future Palestinian prisoner releases was rejected on Sunday by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation. The move has contributed to tension between Jewish Home and other coalition members, who have criticised Naftali Bennett’s party for lacking coalition loyalty, being part of the government which approved the overall prisoner release in July.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday commented at a Likud-Beitenu Knesset faction meeting, “The decision to release prisoners is one of the toughest decisions that I’ve taken as prime minister.” In a thinly veiled criticism of Jewish Home, Netanyahu said “from the moment the government made its decision, all of its members are obligated to act responsibly.”

However, Bennett claimed Jewish Home was facing “unprecedented attack” and that “They’re trying to silence us and make us follow the herd.” Housing Minister and Jewish Home MK Uri Ariel addressed a demonstration by an estimated two to three thousand people yesterday outside Ofer Prison, opposing the prisoner release. Ariel said it is “time to stop” the release of terrorists. Demonstrators contained families of victims of those scheduled for release, many displaying pictures of their loved ones.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, whose Hatnuah Party is also a coalition member accused Jewish Home of “hypocrisy, sanctimony and dirty politics in an attempt to avoid responsibility.”