Israeli security cabinet considers gestures to Palestinians ahead of summit

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2005

JERUSALEM (AFP) — The Israeli security cabinet was discussing a series of gestures towards the Palestinians ahead of next week's landmark Middle East peace summit in Egypt.

The meeting, chaired by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, was expected to focus on the idea of transferring security control from the army to the Palestinian Authority in five West Bank cities as well as demands for the release of prisoners, a source close to the premier told AFP on Thursday.

According to a report on Israel's public radio, the internal security service Shin Beth wants to limit the number of prisoner releases to around 500 out of the estimated 8,000 who are currently detained by Israel.

The radio also reported that Israel was likely to approve the transfer of security...