GAZA, May 28 (UPI) -- Palestinian officials said Saturday the Israeli government has refused to negotiate the release of Palestinian prisoners detained before 1994.
Palestinian Prisoners Affairs Minister Sufian Abu Zaideh told United Press International the Israeli "standards regarding the release of Palestinian prisoners don't meet the minimum Palestinian demands."
He insisted the Jewish state's refusal to release the long-held prisoners as "another violation of agreements and contradicts" Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's declarations made at Sharm el-Sheikh with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in February.
Abu Zaideh added that Israel's decision to free 400 Palestinian prisoners was "unilateral" and was not being coordinated with the Palestinian authorities.
Israel, which released 500 Palestinian prisoners shortly after the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, said it would free 400 more to support Abbas, who is trying to persuade the Palestinian factions to extend the truce.
The factions' main demand for stopping armed attacks against Israel was the release of Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.
