Peace Pact Dispute Leaves 151 Palestinians Locked Up

JERUSALEM — A group of 151 Palestinian prisoners who were supposed to be freed today will remain locked up for now because of a dispute between Israel and the Palestinians over which inmates to release.

Under the terms of an interim peace agreement signed Sept. 4 in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el Sheik, Israel was to release the prisoners today because the Palestinians observe Oct. 8 as an annual day in solidarity with the prisoners.

Israel released a first group of 199 prisoners Sept. 9 in accordance with the agreement. But the second release was postponed after Israel said the Palestinians raised demands that were not part of the latest agreement.

The Palestinians say the Israelis are trying to hold back 47 political prisoners who have longer sentences and instead release those with shorter sentences who would be out in a few months anyway.

Adding to the tension, Palestinian leaders meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah issued a harsh statement charging that the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank “makes it impossible to conduct final status talks” regarding a peace treaty with Israel.

Internal Security Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami said Thursday that the decision about which prisoners to release is Israel’s alone, though the Palestinians should be consulted. Ben-Ami said the delay was an attempt to preserve proper mutual relations and that Israel is “listening to what the Palestinians have to say.”

Israel television reported that the release might be delayed until late next week.

Israel radio reported that in a meeting with families of victims of Palestinian attacks, Prime Minister Ehud Barak declared that he would prefer to see those who killed Israelis stay in jail.

The delay appears to be a setback in Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, which seemed to be back on track Wednesday, when the two sides signed an accord allowing Palestinians to travel between the West Bank and Gaza Strip through Israel.