Palestinian deputy minister of prisoners' affairs on Monday expressed hope that Israel will modify criteria of releasing Palestinian prisoners, given that there was no Israeli leader "with his hands free of Palestinian blood."
"We are in a state closer to war with Israel and this conflict leaves victims and there was no Israeli leader with his hands free of Palestinian blood," deputy minister Ziad Abu Ein told reporters.
His remarks followed reports that Israel was considering to relax its criteria to release prisoners in exchange for the captive soldier Gilad Shalit who had been held by Palestinian militant groups in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip since June 2006.
In the past, Israel has often excluded prisoners "with Israeli blood on their hands" from being released in any goodwill gesture.
"There will be no solution to the issue of prisoners unless all the Israeli laws, which were put by pressure from the right, are lifted," Abu Ein added.
He said there was an agreement with Palestinian chief negotiator Ahmed Qurei that any exchange or release of prisoners must be combined with clear timetable to end the prisoners' issue.
About 11,000 Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli jails, and their release is one of the central Palestinian demands.
Source: Xinhua
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