Israel to Free 300 Lebanon Prisoners Within 48 Hours : But Official Denies Link to Hostages

Israel will free more than 300 Lebanese prisoners within 48 hours, a government official said today. The prisoners are among 735 Lebanese, mostly Shia Muslims, whose release had been demanded by gunmen who freed 39 American hostages Sunday, but the official denied that the events were linked.

Israel radio said that the prisoners had been scheduled for release July 5 but that Cabinet ministers meeting in special session decided to release them early, Israel radio said.

But the government source said the prisoners had been scheduled to be released 3 1/2 weeks ago. Other sources have indicated that the initial delay was due to increasing attacks in southern Lebanon. They said the hijacking of the TWA jet June 14 further delayed the release.

Army to Decide Timing

The sources had said earlier that Israel might gradually release some Lebanese prisoners but that any release would be delayed for a few days to avoid giving the impression that the move was part of a deal to win freedom for the Americans.

The government official said today that “more than 300” prisoners will be released, with the exact timing determined by the Israeli army.

“This is in line with our policy to release the prisoners according to the situation in south Lebanon,” said the source. “It is definitely not related to the release of the American hostages.”

Israel radio said a decision to release the remainder of the prisoners, who were transferred to Atlit, Israel, from the Ansar detention camp in southern Lebanon in April, will require further government deliberation and will depend on “the security situation in the border region.”

Behind-Scenes Pressure

Bad feelings developed between Israel and the United States during the 17-day hostage crisis. Israeli officials complained of behind-the-scenes pressure from Washington to release the Lebanese prisoners and expressed concern about U.S. public opinion polls that showed an erosion in support for Israel.

In Wiesbaden, West Germany, the 39 freed American hostages underwent physical and psychological tests at a U.S. military hospital today, and doctors said they had weathered their 17 days in captivity in excellent and “upbeat” condition.

Most of the hostages will return to the United States Tuesday.

Freed hostage Jack McCarty, a night club owner from San Francisco, said the 39 “held another one of our famous meetings” and the majority agreed to return to Tuesday aboard a TWA charter flight to New York.

He said the flight would arrive in New York at about 11 a.m. PDT. “We’ve been told President Reagan would like to meet us,” he said.

After completion of medical checkups and observation Wednesday, the freed captives are expected to begin the final leg of their journey back to their homes in the United States. Exact times were not announced.

“Spirits are very high. Obviously, they are very happy to be here. I think they are in excellent condition,” said Col. Charles K. Maffet, 41, commander of the Air Force hospital in Wiesbaden. “I am astonished at how upbeat they are.”

Youngest One Leaves

Hospital sources said the youngest member of the group, James Hoskins Jr., 22, of Indianapolis, left the hospital carrying his suitcase and in the company of a woman for an unknown destination. There was no official word on whether he had quit the medical program, which was voluntary.