Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Jerusalem – Sona Al-Deek Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused the Palestinian Authority and the Quartet's request to release Palestinian prisoners arrested before the Oslo accords, according to Israeli newspaper Maariv. A Palestinian source said the reason behind the Israeli refusal is that PA's senior officials’ temporary travel permits, which were granted after Israel stripped them of the 'VIP status' expires in March.
Despite the Quartet diplomat Tony Blair’s request to release 123 Palestinian prisoners who were arrested before the Oslo accords in 1993, Maariv reports that Netanyahu utterly refused to satisfy the request.
Maariv added that some of the prisoners have “blood on their hands,” referring to their attacks against Israel.
Maariv also quoted Netanyahu as saying “this is not the right time to release Palestinian prisoners, as a goodwill gesture towards Abbas and the Palestinian Authority.”
The newspaper added that Netanyahu rejected the request as a pre-condition to resume the Amman talks between Israel and Palestine. On the other hand, he accepted other demands, like expanding the Palestinian security forces’ authority in district (B) in West Bank that is controlled by Israel and Palestinian Authority according to Oslo.
Previously, the Israeli and Palestinian leaders blamed each other on the impasse peace efforts were undergoing.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of spoiling the low-level talks, saying it failed to present detailed proposals for borders and security requested by international mediators. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Palestinians "refused to even discuss" Israeli security needs.
A Palestinian source told ‘Arabstoday’ that the temporary travel permits will expire by the end of March.
The source added that the Palestinian Authority officials expressed their concerns about Israel refusal to renew their travel permits.  
After the Israeli authorities withdrew the 'VIP treatment' from Abbas, the PA leader's freedom of movement was extremely limited, as well as it was his ability to travel within the occupied territories.
PLO executive committee member Bassam Al-Salhi told London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi that the withdrawal of "VIP" treatment from Abbas was a clear message to Abbas and Palestinian Authority, to punish him for signing the reconciliation with Hamas.”
Last month, Israeli newspaper stated that the Palestinian Authority officials complained about Israel has stripping President Mahmoud Abbas of his 'VIP status,' giving him a temporary travel permit valid for only 60 days.
The officials said Abbas spoke about the matter at an internal meeting of his Fatah Party. Abbas reportedly said the new permit is a reflection of Israel's control over the Palestinians.
He also suggested that Israel was punishing him for having requested the membership at the United Nations for Palestine.