Israel takes conciliatory steps ahead of Sharon's trip to US

100 Palestinian prisoners to be released soon

27 July 2003, 18:00 PM

AFP, Jerusalem

Israel approved the release of 100 Palestinian Islamists and started to lift several roadblocks in the West Bank on Sunday as part of a package of conciliatory measures ahead of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's visit to Washington.

The Israeli cabinet voted the release of some 100 Islamist prisoners proposed by Sharon, public radio reported.

Fourteen ministers voted in favour of releasing members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, while nine opposed the move, aimed at appeasing Washington where Sharon is due to hold talks with US President George W. Bush on Tuesday, the radio added.

Far-right ministers and hardliners from Sharon's own Likud party opposed the measure.

The government had already approved the release of some 350 Palestinians, but most of them were administrative detainees who would have been freed soon in any case.

The cabinet had initially stated that no militants "with blood on their hands" would be released from Israeli jails, nor any members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad.

In his talks with Bush on Friday, Palestinian prime minister Mahmud Abbas again insisted that Israel had to press on with the release of prisoners for the US-backed peace roadmap to make progress.

As a conciliatory gesture towards the Palestinians, the decision is expected to appease the White House after Israel rejected US criticism of the security fence being erected through the West Bank.

The two radical groups, who are reponsible for the bulk of deadly attacks against Israel since the start of the intifada, or uprising, 34 months ago, scorned the government vote.

Ismail Haniya, a senior Hamas leader, dismissed the cabinet decision and insisted his movement would not be satisfied until all 6,000 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails were released.

"This decision is not sufficient. All detainees must be released unconditionally.

"If not, the Israeli occupation will be entirely responsible for the consequences," he warned.

Also speaking to AFP, Islamic Jihad leader Mohammad al-Hindi described the measure as "a smokescreen aimed at deceiving international public opinion on Israel's true intentions".

But Palestinian information minister Nabil Amr welcomed the decision.

"This measure is encouraging. It will be even more encouraging if Israel decides on more releases and if there is an agreement between Israeli and Palestinian ministers for these releases," he told AFP.