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Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=10507
Israel: No Agreement to Palestinian Preconditions for Talks
(Israel Hayom) Shlomo Cesana - The London-based Al-Hayat reported Saturday that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's plan to renew negotiations includes a quiet Israeli construction freeze in the West Bank outside the large settlement blocs and a phased release of 103 Palestinian security prisoners who have been in Israeli jails since before the Oslo Accords were signed. The report was denied by Israeli officials, who said Prime Minister Netanyahu has no intention of releasing Palestinian prisoners as a good-will gesture or a response to preconditions set by Abbas. A senior Israeli official said Netanyahu wants to avoid a situation whereby Abbas steps away from the negotiating table after a few meetings and turn to the UN in September under the premise that Israel is to blame for the failure of the talks.