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Inmates freed to bolster Abbas
23/09/2007 19:42 - (SA)
Jerusalem - The Israeli government on Sunday approved the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners - its latest gesture meant to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in his power struggle against the militant Islamic Hamas.
But Palestinians reacted with disappointment, urging Israel to free larger numbers of prisoners at a time when the sides are trying to step up peace efforts.
An Israeli government spokesperson said the prisoners could be freed as early as Tuesday evening. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert proposed the current release - timed to coincide with Ramadan, the Muslim holy month - in his last meeting with Abbas two weeks ago.
The meetings are intended to forge guidelines for a
US-sponsored peace conference tentatively scheduled for Washington in November. Palestinians are pressing for a detailed document, while Israel wants a vaguer text.
Israel is holding about 11 000 Palestinians.
The Israelis say the 90 have more than a year to run on their sentences, but none were directly involved in fatal attacks.
The last prisoner release as in July, when 250 were freed.
The Palestinians have long demanded that prisoner releases be co-ordinated with the Palestinians through negotiations.
- AP
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