Israel to delay Palestinian prisoner release 'at PA's request'
Associated Press , THE JERUSALEM POST Dec. 8, 2008
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Government officials said Monday they were delaying the release of 250
Palestinian prisoners until next week.

The officials said the delay was at the request of the Palestinians. They
said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is on a Muslim pilgrimage
in Saudi Arabia and wants to be back in the West Bank to greet the freed
prisoners.

The release had been set to take place on Tuesday.

Israel has said the release is a goodwill gesture to Abbas meant to coincide
the Muslim feast of the sacrifice. The holiday began Monday.