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Israel to release 450 prisoners Israel to release 450 prisoners
(about 1 hour later)
Israel's prime minister has received cabinet approval for the release of about 450 Palestinian detainees. The government of Israel has approved the release of 450 Palestinian detainees in a move announced just before talks with Palestinian leaders.
Ehud Olmert made the request before meeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who had been asking for at least 2,000 people to be freed. A senior Israeli official said it was a goodwill gesture ahead of a Middle East peace conference in the US next week.
Their talks are the latest in a series leading up to the US-sponsored Middle East peace conference which is expected to take place next week. Israeli premier Ehud Olmert reiterated a pledge to freeze new settlements in the occupied West Bank and dismantle unauthorised "wildcat" settlements.
Officials said they would work on a joint declaration for the conference. His office added he would meet Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak on Tuesday.
In comments quoted by AFP, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said they would "review the work done by negotiating teams and try to bridge the gaps as differences on the concepts continue to divide the two parties". There will be no new settlements and no land confiscations Israeli PM Ehud Olmert
On Tuesday, Mr Olmert will travel to Egypt for talks with President Hosni Mubarak in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the prime minister's office said. Mr Olmert's talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are the latest in a series leading up to the expected conference in Annapolis, Maryland.
Speaking to reporters in Ramallah, Mr Abbas said that "we want to reach satisfactory progress so that we can go to Annapolis with a solid base".
Mr Abbas had been asking for at least 2,000 Palestinians to be freed from Israeli prisons.
New settlementNew settlement
Israeli jails hold about 11,000 Palestinians from the occupied territories, for a variety of security reasons, including many without being tried or charged. Correspondents said the statement on new settlements stopped short of US and Palestinian demands to freeze construction in existing settlements.
Mr Olmert also told cabinet that Israel would not to build any new settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel has about 11,000 detainees from the occupied territories
"Let's be honest. We committed ourselves... not to build new settlements. There will be no new settlements and no land confiscations," Mr Olmert was quoted by his spokeswoman as saying. "We committed ourselves... not to build new settlements," Mr Olmert was quoted by his spokeswoman as saying.
Correspondents said the statement stopped short of US and Palestinian demands to freeze construction in existing settlements. "There will be no new settlements and no land confiscations."
Settlements in the land occupied by Israel in the 1967 war are deemed illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.Settlements in the land occupied by Israel in the 1967 war are deemed illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this.
A senior Palestinian negotiator quoted by Reuters called Mr Olmert's comments "nonsense" without a pledge on expanding existing settlements, currently housing more than 400,000 Israelis in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem.
Israel holds about 11,000 Palestinians in detention for a variety of security reasons, including many without trial or charge.
An Israeli official said the justice ministry had drawn up a list of about 450 prisoners who fitted the criteria for release set by Mr Olmert.
Existing criteria exclude members of the militant Hamas movement, which controls the Gaza Strip and is branded a terrorist group by Israel, and people responsible for deadly attacks against Israelis.
Low expectationsLow expectations
The Bush administration called the Annapolis meeting hoping to kick-start Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations after a seven years without substantive talks. The Bush administration called the Annapolis meeting hoping to kick-start Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations after seven years without substantive talks.
However, correspondents say expectations of the conference have sunk amid continuing disputes over the joint document addressing the negotiating terms on the major issues. However, correspondents say expectations of the conference have sunk amid continuing disputes over a joint document addressing the negotiating terms on the major issues.
These are the future of Jerusalem, the future borders of Israel and the Palestinian state and the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees from what is now Israel. These are the future of Jerusalem, the future borders of Israel and the Palestinian state. and the fate of millions of Palestinian refugees from what is now Israel.
Foreign ministers from the Arab League members, many of which have no diplomatic ties with Israel, will decide on Friday whether to attend the meeting due to take place in Annapolis, Maryland. Foreign ministers from the Arab League, many of whose members have no diplomatic ties with Israel, will decide on Friday whether to attend the meeting due to take place in Annapolis, Maryland.
The US has not yet announced the date of the conference or the list of participants, although it is expected to happen before the end of November.The US has not yet announced the date of the conference or the list of participants, although it is expected to happen before the end of November.