Barak Halts Release of Palestinian Bodies to PA

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak Tuesday issued an order to stop the release of 84 Palestinian bodies to the Palestinian Authority (PA) despite Monday’s confirmation of the release by the Israeli army spokesman based on a decision by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Barak claimed that it is important to weigh the repercussions of such a release on a future release deal for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, according to Haaretz. Palestinian Chairman of the General Authority for Civil Affairs, Hussein al-Sheikh had announced on Monday that Israel will release the remains of 84 Palestinians which have been held by the Israeli government since the 1967 war and buried in unknown cemeteries in Israel. Al-Sheikh told WAFA, “After intensive negotiations which lasted over a year, the Israeli government decided to release 84 bodies, most of whom were held since 1967; Israel will also release another 102 bodies without preconditions.”