Proposed ban on jailed Palestinian terrorists’ release defeated

The ministerial legislation committee rejected Sunday a Bayit Yehudi draft law for banning the release of convicted Palestinian terrorists serving life sentences. The first batch of prisoners was released as an Israeli gesture of goodwill when the US-led peace talks with the Palestinian Authority began. The second, which the bill aimed to prevent, is due later this week. Of the eight ministers who voted against the bill, four Likud were members plus Justice Minister Tzipi LIvni who leads the Israeli delegation to the talks with the Palestinians.