Israeli leader faces uproar over prisoner release

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's prime minister faced a political uproar from across the political spectrum on Monday over the planned release of 26 Palestinian prisoners, all according to authorities convicted on murder charges connected to deadly attacks on Israelis.

Tuesday's release is part of a U.S.-brokered agreement that restarted peace talks with the Palestinians over the summer. It is the second of four planned releases of the longest-serving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel in the coming months.

The overnight announcement of the prisoner names triggered a storm of criticism. Among those going free are people jailed in connection to the killings of Israelis including a reservist and a Nazi death camp survivor, according to the list provided by Israel's prison service.

Many of the killings occurred before the beginning of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in 1993.

Over a thousand people protested Monday night outside Ofer jail where the prisoners are held. Families held up pictures of slain loved ones and called on the government not to release the prisoners held responsible for their deaths.

Israel has a long history of lopsided prisoner exchanges with its Arab adversaries. But this week's release appeared especially charged because Israel is receiving little in return except for the opportunity to conduct negotiations that few people believe will be successful.