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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Cabinet okays Fatah prisoner release |
| 2007-07-09 |
| The cabinet approved the release of 250 Fatah security prisoners on Sunday, but the actual list of names is being revised and will be brought to the ministers for approval at a later date. Those released will be members of Fatah who do not have "blood on their hands," i.e. prisoners who had not personally participated in lethal terrorist attacks. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told ministers the goodwill gesture would strengthen Palestinian moderates, including Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, encouraging them to go in the right direction, toward genuine peace talks with Israel. The prime minister said he was "convinced beyond doubt" that the release would not hurt the chances of freeing kidnapped IDF soldiers Gilad Schalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. "Maybe it will even create an atmosphere that will facilitate the process of their release," he said. |
| Posted by:Fred |