Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., October 02, 2007 , | | Israel Time: 19:03 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Print Edition
Diplomacy
Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising
Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit Monday. (AP)
del.icio.us
Digg It!  new
Last update - 03:24 26/06/2007
Olmert at Sharm summit: Israel to free 250 Fatah prisoners
By Aluf Benn, Barak Ravid, and Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondents, and The Associated Press

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that he would seek cabinet approval for the release of 250 Fatah prisoners held in Israeli jails, as part of a package of steps aimed at strengthening Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.

Speaking at the close of a four-way summit with Abbas, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II, Olmert said only prisoners who Israel does not hold directly responsible for deaths of its citizens would be released.

"As a gesture of goodwill toward the Palestinians, I will bring before the Israeli cabinet at its next meeting a proposal to free 250 Fatah prisoners who do not have blood on their hands, after they sign a commitment not to return to violence," Olmert said.

Advertisement
The prime minister had previously ruled out freeing Palestinian prisoners as long as Israel Defense Forces corporal Gilad Shalit remains in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Shalit's captors on Monday released an audio recording of the captive soldier speaking, to coincide with the date of his abduction a year ago.

The prime minister did not, however, announce that Israel would remove West Bank checkpoints. That step was halted due to IDF objections.

Olmert told Mubarak during their face-to-face meeting at the summit that Israel is also willing to help strengthen the Palestinian security forces loyal to Abbas. He called on the Egyptian president to increase his efforts to prevent arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip.

"In these tumultuous times, I also see a chance," the prime minister said as the talks ended. "An opportunity has emerged to genuinely advance the regional diplomatic process. I do not intend to let this opportunity pass us by."

Olmert said Israel would recognize the new emergency Palestinian government headed by independent Salam Fayad, and would work with it to advance the peace process as well as the U.S.-backed road map for peace.

According to the prime minister, Israel will take steps to ensure that West Bank residents get the sense that choosing the path of peace will open new doors. Olmert added that he agreed to Abbas' request to continue humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

"We are not interested in punishing the population solely because they are ruled by a terrorist organization," said the prime minister, referring to Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip. "We cannot and will not cooperate with those forces."

Addressing the Palestinian people, Olmert said, "We are not indifferent to your suffering. We are not ignoring the need to bring it to an end, through understanding and peacemaking."

"As Israel's prime minister, I say to you: We have no desire to rule you... nor run your lives.

"We have no intention to make decisions for you. I believe that soon you will be able to live in your state alongside the State of Israel."

Turning to the families of Palestinian prisoners, Olmert said: "Just as it is important to you to bring your sons home, it is also important to us. The terrorist organizations holding our soldiers are showing cruelty and inhumanity."

The prime minister said that in releasing the audio tape purportedly from Shalit, the "terrorist organizations are trying to emotionally manipulate the Israeli public. This won't work."

Olmert called on Arab states to negotiate on the Arab peace initiative reaffirmed by the Arab League earlier this year. "Let's talk about it," said Olmert. "Give the Israeli and Palestinian people your support and backing."

Abbas appealed to Olmert during their meetng Monday to resume serious talks on the estblishment of a future Palestinian state.

"Our region stands at a crossroads between the paths of peace and violence," said Abbas.

"The decisions of this summit must give hope to the [both] peoples and begin a peace process toward a better future," he added.

Saeb Erekat, a senior Abbas aide, said following the summit that "now the time has come to turn words into actions on the ground."

Erekat said that Olmert and Abbas had agreed to establish a joint committee to discuss an Israeli withdrawal to the lines that existed prior to the outbreak of the intifada in September 2000.

The committee would also discuss a solution to the issue of Fatah activists who were expelled from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip following the standoff at Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, and who are currently still in the Gaza Strip.

Abbas also asked Olmert to allow Palestinians who are stranded in Egypt to enter the Gaza Strip, and demanded that Israel halt all West Bank construction.

Mubarak: Preserve territorial unity

"We are demonstrating at this summit our support for the PA and Abbas and the legitimacy of his rule," said Mubarak. "We are calling for the territorial unity of the West Bank and Gaza Strip to be preserved."

"There is an urgent need to end the internal Palestinian clashes and restore dialogue," continued Mubarak.

The Egyptian president said during his meeting with Olmert that everything must be done in order to ensure that humanitarian aid reach the Gaza Strip. "We will not let any Palestinian starve in Gaza," he said.

"We must stabilize the situation," added Mubarak. "The road map has been faltering for seven years and we must start discussing a diplomatic horizon along with the removal of checkpoints and the easing of Palestinian suffering."

King Abdullah said in his address that "the path of peace is clear and so is the path of violence. We want a better future for our children. We have an opportunity to realize the dream that we have been awaiting for many years."
Bookmark to del.icio.us
Lights out
Electric company cancels emergency bond issue due to credit rating reduction fears.
No free lunches
Accountant General Zelekha demands VIPs pay taxes on their free medical benefits.
  1.   More concessions won`t bring change 08:22  |  B 25/06/07
  2.   Israel Dragging Feet as Usual, While Hamas Rises 08:51  |  Hani 25/06/07
  3.   Israel offers a big parcel of nothing to its UncleTom 08:59  |  Clickfool 25/06/07
  4.   Israel is a military junta masquerading as a democracy 09:02  |  Clickfool 25/06/07
  5.   For Hani # 2 10:01  |  Clickfool 25/06/07
  6.   Clickfool-# 4-The PA is an Islamo-fascist regime masquerading as 10:03  |  Daniel Leopold 25/06/07
  7.   Olmert offers ? He already gave away everything he could 10:10  |  Sal 25/06/07
  8.   What is withour Leaders? 10:14  |  Paul 25/06/07
  9.   Palestinians NEVER HELD ACCOUNTABLE!!!!!! 10:14  |  Ben Uziel 25/06/07
  10.   road blocks is blocking peace 10:20  |  sami 25/06/07
  11.   too much noise but nothing later. 10:26  |  kad 25/06/07
  12.   Lifting roadblocks: Too early. 10:39  |  Nora 25/06/07
  13.   Sumit of the helpless, powerless, and ruthless 10:40  |  isratinian 25/06/07
  14.   sami-#10-road blocks are blocking suicide bombers not peace 10:52  |  Daniel Leopold 25/06/07
  15.   For Daniel Leopold # 6 10:55  |  Clickfool 25/06/07
  16.   Sami in Paris & Clickfool 11:02  |  Rufus 25/06/07
  17.   Use Egypt as the example 11:17  |  Natallie Durson 25/06/07
  18.   Mr Abbas 11:42  |  raed 25/06/07
  19.   Mr. Abbas 12:00  |  Steve Cohen 25/06/07
  20.   Please Use Words Correctly 12:08  |  Moshe 25/06/07
  21.   Olmert please go, but do not come back! 12:13  |  Jonathan S 25/06/07
  22.   I`m afraid Natallie Durson was correct yesterday 13:14  |  Swiss (Dino) 25/06/07
  23.   NEVER MIND THE QUALITY FEEL THE WIDTH 13:24  |  paul harris 25/06/07
  24.   #15 about as much "real" as your country 13:47  |  Raanan 25/06/07
  25.   Why Bother 13:49  |  Darwish 25/06/07
  26.   Israel aparthied 14:02  |  Jason 25/06/07
  27.   Palestinian Money 14:24  |  Paulo 25/06/07
  28.   they must do it 14:43  |  Sami 25/06/07
  29.   a great summit! 14:57  |  Ahmad 25/06/07
  30.   #17 to natalie 15:11  |  John Allen 25/06/07
  31.   To #14 Roadblocks 15:12  |  isratinian 25/06/07
  32.   #15 clickfool 15:20  |  John Allen 25/06/07
  33.   To #19 Steve Cohen 15:22  |  isratinian 25/06/07
  34.   #26 jason 15:27  |  John Allen 25/06/07
  35.   20 Moshe - Right On! 15:28  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/07
  36.   #14, Daniel Leopold needing the roadblocks 15:30  |  Burkhardt 25/06/07
  37.   to #31 15:32  |  John Allen 25/06/07
  38.   When dumb things are said by stupid people 15:54  |  Chaim Gorenstein 25/06/07
  39.   13 Isratinian - Not in My Name 16:07  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/07
  40.   PALESTINIANS Have No Partner: In Israel. BUSH Needs To Act--NOW! 16:24  |  Proud Pal Defender 25/06/07
  41.   Mubarak, Jordan and Sauds have no choice they need to back Abbas 16:26  |  Shepherd 25/06/07
  42.   BLA BLA OLMERT=LAWYER 16:42  |  rafiq 25/06/07
  43.   CYNICAL AND NOT FUNNY 17:39  |  JOEL WELTMAN 25/06/07
  44.   #10 Sami 17:51  |  * BEN JABO 25/06/07
  45.   A PRETTY GOOD START 18:02  |  JOEL WELTMAN 25/06/07
  46.   The Pupptes Dance to their Master`s Tune 18:21  |  Arik 25/06/07
  47.   Power vacuum is being filled by extremists &... 18:23  |  Mariano 25/06/07
  48.   Foot Dragging 18:23  |  Sameer S Reehani 25/06/07
  49.   #25. BY OUR SUSSEX CORREPONDENT “HAARETZ IS TURNING INTO TABLOID” 18:23  |  MOSHEH 25/06/07
  50.   #36 BURKHARDT AND THE WATER MYSTERY 18:24  |  paul harris 25/06/07
  51.   For Mosheh # 49 18:45  |  Clickfool 25/06/07
  52.   Where`s the beef? 18:51  |  Blogowitz 25/06/07
  53.   WATER RIGHTS AND WRONGS 18:59  |  JOEL WELTMAN 25/06/07
  54.   Imagine 19:00  |  George 25/06/07
  55.   offering a box filled with nothing 19:26  |  Gio 25/06/07
  56.   "Israelis have stolen from the Palestinians" 19:33  |  Lenny 25/06/07
  57.   By GEORGE, YOU ARE RIGHT ON 19:41  |  JOEL WELTMAN 25/06/07
  58.   #54 George 19:48  |  guido 25/06/07
  59.   olmert 20:19  |  Gene 25/06/07
  60.   #2, Hani 20:24  |  Hannah 25/06/07
  61.   #4, Clickfool 20:27  |  Hannah 25/06/07
  62.   See you at Hamastan No. II! 20:32  |  Andreas 25/06/07
  63.   Photo Op. 20:33  |  Baz Mann 25/06/07
  64.   In The Dictionary........ 20:35  |  Mordechai 25/06/07
  65.   It pays to wage a 60 yr war with the Jews/Israel - you get paid!! 20:37  |  pace306 25/06/07
  66.   #9, Ben Uziel 20:40  |  Hannah 25/06/07
  67.   250 hostages / prisoners with few days left 20:40  |  Mehemet Agha 25/06/07
  68.   Another missed opportunity Part 1 20:44  |  Phillies Wright 25/06/07
  69.   The Soon to Be Released Terrorists` Commitment 20:44  |  Tod Zuckerman 25/06/07
  70.   #3 Clickfool 20:47  |  Martin 25/06/07
  71.   hamas response to this 20:52  |  vik 25/06/07
  72.   Do U want peace? 20:54  |  ٍSalem 25/06/07
  73.   #18, Raed 20:54  |  Hannah 25/06/07
  74.   Another missed opportunity Part 2 20:54  |  Phillies Wright 25/06/07
  75.   SHAME ON THE POLITICIANS 20:54  |  Mike 25/06/07
  76.   #21, Jonathan 20:57  |  Hannah 25/06/07
  77.   Just make sure they sign the form letter stating they wont try to 21:01  |  SLAVO 25/06/07
  78.   suing the Israeli governmetn 21:02  |  Jabadini 25/06/07