RAMALLAH, July 5, 2011 (WAFA) – Palestinian Chairman of the General Authority for Civil Affairs, Hussein al-Sheikh, said in a televised interview on Tuesday that he did not receive an Israeli official decision revoking the release of the remains of 84 Palestinians, which have been held by the Israeli government since 1967 and buried in unknown cemeteries in Israel.

Al-Sheikh said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed, following discrete long-term talks, to release the remains of 84 Palestinians, whose names and identities were verified through medical tests.

Israeli media revealed after midnight Monday that Israeli Minister of Defense, Ehud Barak, issued an order to stop the release, so as to study its effects on the issue of the captive Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit. However, Al-Sheikh reiterated that the talks on the remains were separate from the political negotiations or the Shalit issue.

“I’m not surprised by Barak’s decision. We will not give in to Israel’s attempts to extort us on the remains of Palestinians. This issue will not be compromised and we won’t give up any of them,” said Al-Sheikh.

He added that the talks with the Israeli side will soon include releasing the remains of another 102 Palestinians who died between 1967 and the mid-1970s.

R.Q./F.J.