Despite objections from the IDF and Israel Security Service (Shin Bet), Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gave the green light to Palestinian security forces deployed  in Nablus to receive  25 armoured vehicles, 1000 rifles and two million rounds of ammunition, additional concessions to the Palestinian Authority before the Annapolis summit. In addition, on Tuesday night the ministerial committee approved the release of 432 Palestinian security prisoners also scheduled to take place before the summit.

All this without any demands from the Palestinian Authority to live up to its committments, combat terror and recognize Israel as the Jewish State.

While a timetable for the armoured vehicles and weapons and ammunition has yet to be set, the release of security prisoners is expected to take place within days. Both the army and the Shin Bet have opposed further "gestures" to the Palestinian Authority particularly the vehicles and weapons, fearing that they will fall into the hands of extremist groups and be used to perpetrate attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.

Chief of General Staff Lt.Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi objected strongly to an additional release of prisoners especially those from Gaza, stating that Israel must demand the release of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit who has been held captive in Gaza for nearly 18 months. The list includes 15 prisoners from the Gaza Strip. Eight of the inmates that appeared on the original list were removed, because they aligned themselves with Hamas while in prison, and another prisoner was removed from the list reportedly for trying to escape in the past.

The Israel Prisons Service is expected to publish the list of names on its Web site in the next few days, and if there are no changes, the prisoners are expected to be released before the US conference. 11/21/07

Margot Dudkevitch

Infolive.tv