Window on Israel: Releasing even more prisoners?

As if a former president accused of rape, and a sitting prime minister being investigated for several kinds of misconduct was not enough, Israel is approaching an issue sure to be provocative.
 
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who has already announced his impending resignation, promised to his Palestinian partner in negotiations that he would implement a gesture of releasing a number of prisoners, said to be 150.
 
It is hard to find a commentator or a politician, except those close to Olmert, who can give a convincing explanation or justification for the action.
 
Perhaps it is a gesture to the American administration, still pushing for some kind of agreement with the Palestinians before the end of the Bush presidency.
 
It is said to be an effort to strengthen Mahmoud Abbas among the Palestinians, but this seems mistaken. Abbas and his colleagues have called for the release of two prominent prisoners (one involved in the murder of an Israeli government minister), which seems most unlikely to occur. If the deal goes through, Israel may find 150 prisoners from among its stock of 12,000 or so Palestinians who are old, sick, who have served long terms, or are guilty of minor offenses (i.e., car thieves rather than murderers). Such a deal would be more a slap in the face of Abbas and his colleagues than anything that would strengthen them among Palestinians who think of them as toadies with respect to Israel, or simply as corrupt old men who have never done anything for their people.
 
The deal may not happen.
 
Noam Schalit, the articulate father of the Israeli soldier being held by Hamas, has asked, "Where is my son, Gilad?" This is likely to be the theme of a campaign to scuttle any deal that does not involve Gilad's return.
 
It is difficult to see how a gesture for Abbas will help with his enemies among Hamas.
 
Others ask, "What has Abbas ever given to us?" He only demands concessions, and has not indicated what compromises, if any, he is prepared to make with respect to the rigid Palestinian demands of 1967 borders, a capital in Jerusalem, and the return of 1948 refugees.
 
Beyond the details of the action are complaints about the status of Olmert. He is still prime minister, and has all the legal authority associated with the office. He can make an offer in negotiations with the Palestinians, but he lacks the political weight or moral authority to persuade his colleagues in the Cabinet who must approve it.
 
So far, he has appointed a committee including two of his closest supporters and one other minister to define the kinds of prisoners to be released.
 
Whatever that committee decides (if it decides anything) will not pass without public commotion. Deliberations may drag out beyond the point where Olmert actually resigns and someone else must deal with the remnants of his commitments and concerns of the expiring Bush administration.
 
In the coming days the world will be more concerned about the Olympics and fighting between Russia and Georgia.
 
This too, we will survive.