Delay of Palestinians' release rejected

JERUSALEM, Dec. 16 (UPI) -- Israel's Supreme Court decided Friday to allow a second round of Palestinian prisoner releases in exchange for Gilad Shalit despite legal activists' objections.

The Israel Law Center had petitioned the country's highest court to delay the release of 550 Palestinian detainees, who the country's Prison Services Web site said are scheduled to gain their freedom Sunday, The Jerusalem Post reported. Army Radio reported the High Court rejected the petition, the newspaper said.

The prisoners are among 1,027 being freed in exchange for the release of Shalit. The Israeli soldier, abducted by Palestinian militants in June 2006, was turned over to Israel in October when 477 detainees were released.

The Israel Law Center argued unsuccessfully that while Israel is committed to honor the deal that brought Shalit home, his release means the release of the second batch of Palestinian detainees can be delayed while a "full democratic and public process" takes place to set up criteria to determine who should be freed.