Middle East:Israel's cabinet agreed yesterday to release 250 Palestinian prisoners in the latest attempt to strengthen western-backed Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas after Hamas's seizure of the Gaza Strip.
"I think this is a worthy gesture to make . . . because we want to use any means that can reinforce moderate elements in the Palestinian Authority," Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert told the cabinet.
Mr Olmert had pledged at a June 25th summit with the Palestinian leader to free prisoners from Mr Abbas's Fatah movement as part of a western campaign to bolster the new administration he named after sacking a unity government with Hamas.
But Mr Olmert assured the cabinet he would not free "prisoners with blood on their hands" - Israel's term for Palestinians jailed for deadly attacks against Israelis. A government official said the cabinet voted 18 to six in favour of the motion. A final release roster will be put together by a committee. Once the list is approved, it could take days before prisoners are freed since Israel would allow 48 hours for the releases to be challenged in petitions to the supreme court. Previous prisoner releases have been opposed by groups representing families of Israelis harmed in Palestinian attacks. Palestinians regard prisoners held by Israel as heroes of what they call resistance against occupation.
Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Mr Abbas, welcomed the decision. But he urged Israel to draw up the list of those to be freed in co-ordination with Palestinians.
"The prisoner issue needs more than gestures to be resolved. However, we welcome the release of prisoners any time," he said.
Officials estimate that Israel holds at least 10,000 Palestinian prisoners.
- (Reuters)