The Israeli cabinet has approved the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners after an earlier promise from outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The prisoners, some of 11,000 held by Israel, will be freed in the West Bank.
An Israeli official said the move aimed to help bolster Palestinian PM Mahmoud Abbas's West Bank administration against Hamas, which rules in Gaza.
Israel freed 198 other prisoners in a similar move in August.
Mr Olmert made the gesture after a meeting with Mr Abbas on 17 November.
Israeli cabinet member Gideon Ezra was quoted by Reuters news agency as saying the aim to help Mr Abbas "earn the co-operation of the population" without harming Israel's security.
The decision also follows a temporary lifting of the blockade of Gaza earlier this month to allow deliveries of humanitarian aid into the territory.
But the prisoner release has also drawn criticism from some Israelis.
Trade and Industry Minister Eli Yishai, from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, said it sent out the wrong message while an Israeli soldier captured in 2006 was still being held.
- ISRAEL KEEPS GIVING THE ARABS STUFF AND KEEPS GETTING NOTHING IN RETURN.
- THIS IS IDIOTIC.
- AND DANGEROUS: IT MOTIVATES THE ENEMY TO CONTINUE THEIR ATTACKS.
2 comments:
This is all so very sad...Olmert, respectfully, has been an unmitigated disaster.
When the Lion started Kadima I was all on board with Sharon, but only he (like Nixon to China) could cut have cut any deal that would never impinge on the security of the state...
BTW, didn't they get the memo in Pakistan? Kashmir??? HUSSEIN won so we are no longer racists, milk and honey flow throught the world, Americans once again loved on every continent and the UN Sec. General is ready to be our new CIC!!!!
Oh, didn't these same people tell us that if we just ousted Musharraf, and re-introduce "democracy" in Paki Land, then we would have no problems whatsoever in that region....and the ISI would change its stripes!!!
Singh is Obamaesque, as he rolled back restrictions in 04"...
Need to get Bibi in power real soon, God willing in Feb.
agree with you 10000000%!
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