Israel has threatened to call off peacemaking moves with the Palestinians today after President Mahmoud Abbas said he would free a militant jailed for killing an Israeli minister.
Mr Abbas said Ahmed Saadat, accused by Israel of ordering the assassination in 2001, would be freed after the long delayed Israeli pullback of troops from the city of Jericho - due to happen tomorrow.
Mr Abbas's announcement could strengthen his position ahead of talks he is due to start in Cairo, where he wants to persuade militant groups to formalise the ceasefire he agreed with Israel on February 8th.
Israel only agreed to pull back from Jericho and two other West Bank cities yesterday.
Senior Palestinian officials dismissed suggestions from Israel that they had given assurances that Saadat and three others accused of involvement in the killing of Tourism Minister Rehavam Zeevi would not really be freed.
"If the Palestinians dare to release them, Israel will get them quicker than they can imagine," said Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz.
Militant factions are meeting with Mr Abbas in Cairo and have said that they could agree to formalise a ceasefire if Israel pulls back troops, ends all military operations and frees more of some 8,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today that such a truce by militants would not be enough and Abbas needed to dismantle the factions in order to restart negotiations on a final peace deal and statehood.