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Israel starts Palestinian release | Israel starts Palestinian release |
(20 minutes later) | |
Israel has begun releasing more than 250 Palestinian prisoners, including six women and 11 minors. | Israel has begun releasing more than 250 Palestinian prisoners, including six women and 11 minors. |
Israel had agreed to the releases as a gesture of support to the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. | Israel had agreed to the releases as a gesture of support to the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas. |
However, no prisoners from Hamas, which is locked in bitter rivalry with Mr Abbas's Fatah, are due to be freed. | However, no prisoners from Hamas, which is locked in bitter rivalry with Mr Abbas's Fatah, are due to be freed. |
Many Palestinians are saying that freeing only 256 Palestinian prisoners out of some 10,000 is not enough, our correspondent in the West Bank says. | |
'Final stage' | |
Buses are taking the prisoners from Ketziot prison in southern Israel to the West Bank town of Ramallah, where they will return to their families. | Buses are taking the prisoners from Ketziot prison in southern Israel to the West Bank town of Ramallah, where they will return to their families. |
"We have began to free 256 prisoners, including six women," Ian Domnitz, a spokesman for Israel's prisons authority, told the AFP news agency. | "We have began to free 256 prisoners, including six women," Ian Domnitz, a spokesman for Israel's prisons authority, told the AFP news agency. |
"They've been identified. They've been medically checked. They've had interviews with the Red Cross and this is the final stage," he said. | "They've been identified. They've been medically checked. They've had interviews with the Red Cross and this is the final stage," he said. |
The move was approved two weeks ago by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's cabinet. | The move was approved two weeks ago by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's cabinet. |
"We want to use every means that can strengthen the moderates within the Palestinian Authority," Mr Olmert said at that time. | "We want to use every means that can strengthen the moderates within the Palestinian Authority," Mr Olmert said at that time. |
Israel hopes to boost support for Mr Abbas whose emergency government based in the West Bank excludes the radicals of Hamas. | Israel hopes to boost support for Mr Abbas whose emergency government based in the West Bank excludes the radicals of Hamas. |
Last month, Hamas fighters overran the Gaza Strip, overcoming their rivals from Fatah. | Last month, Hamas fighters overran the Gaza Strip, overcoming their rivals from Fatah. |
Hamas says the release of Fatah-affiliated prisoners reinforces Mr Abbas' policy to deepen the divide between his organisation and Hamas. | Hamas says the release of Fatah-affiliated prisoners reinforces Mr Abbas' policy to deepen the divide between his organisation and Hamas. |
About 10,000 Palestinian prisoners are being held in Israeli jails, some without charge. | About 10,000 Palestinian prisoners are being held in Israeli jails, some without charge. |
The last time Israel freed a significant number of Palestinian prisoners was in 2005, when almost 400 were released as part of a ceasefire deal. | The last time Israel freed a significant number of Palestinian prisoners was in 2005, when almost 400 were released as part of a ceasefire deal. |