JERUSALEM, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- A proposal to release several hundred Palestinian security prisoners as a goodwill gesture is set to be voted on Monday in the Israeli Cabinet.
Officials say a list of hundreds of detainees' names drawn up has been under review ahead of the Annapolis, Md., peace conference by Justice Ministry Director General Moshe Shilo, the Jerusalem Post reported.
The final decision on the exact number of prisoners to be freed has not been made, but officials say there won't be any Hamas, Islamic Jihad detainees or residents of the Gaza Strip including Fatah members set free.
Officials say the prisoner release is an example of the flurry of anticipated diplomatic activity ahead of the Annapolis peace conference expected to take place towards the end of November.
Israel Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is urging "Russia to exert its influence in the Arab world to broaden support for the peace process, including among Arab states which do not have diplomatic relations with Israel," the Jerusalem Post reported.
"The more the Arab states will be partners to the process and take steps to advance normalization with Israel by stages, the stronger the peace process will be and the greater the progress achieved," Livni said in a statement.
