Israel to Release Thousands of Palestinian Prisoners

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, July 20, 2003

Israel to Release Thousands of Palestinian Prisoners

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Israel is prepared to release thousands of Palestinian prisoners in the distant future as peace talks progress, Israel Army Radio quoted sources close to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as saying on Sunday.

According to the sources, prisoners "with blood on their hands" will not be released, but 4,000 other prisoners could be set free if it is established that they would not be engaged in terror activities within Palestinian-controlled areas.

The prisoners will be released in quotas periodically in accordance with actions the Palestinian National Authority undertakes to fight terror, said the report.

At present, about 7,000 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons.

Sharon is scheduled to meet with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas at 2 p.m. (1100 GMT) in Jerusalem. The main subject of discussion between the two leaders will be the prisoners issue.

Israel Radio on Sunday quoted Palestinian sources as saying thatduring the meeting Abbas will call for the release of some 450 prisoners held in Israel for over 20 years.

Sharon is expected to tell Abbas that Israel will release some Islamic Jihad and Hamas prisoners with no "blood on their hands," reported Sunday's Jerusalem Post.

The Islamic Jihad and Hamas prisoners will be from the civic branches of these groups, and include only those "not involved in murdering people," it added.

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