Israel unlikely to free Palestinian prisoners ahead of Ramadan - Haaretz

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Sun., September 09, 2007 Elul 26, 5767

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Last update - 18:22 09/09/2007

Israel unlikely to free Palestinian prisoners ahead of Ramadan

By Reuters

Israel is unlikely to release from prison 100 members of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, an government official said on Sunday.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who will meet Abbas in Jerusalem on Monday, had been expected to announce the gesture ahead of Ramadan, which begins with the sighting of the new moon this week.

"It's a very low likelihood that it will be done before Ramadan," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

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"These are real acute issues that we have to think about. It's something that will be done. But it's not going to be a gesture for Ramadan."

A government official said last week that Israel intended to free the 100 prisoners before the holiday.

Officials said the prisoners, all from the Gaza Strip, would have "no blood on their hands" and at least one year left on their sentences. They would be released on condition they signed a document promising not to be involved in violence.

Israel freed more than 250 Palestinian prisoners, mostly Fatah members, on July 20, in a bid to boost Abbas, whose faction lost the Gaza Strip to Hamas Islamists in fighting three months ago.

The Western-backed Abbas is engaged with Olmert in preparations for a U.S.-proposed Middle East conference expected in November.

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1.	OF COURSE NOT IN RAMADHAN	18:51	\|	indrajaya	09/09/07

2.	release	19:12	\|	eddie karaite	09/09/07

3.	11000 Palestianin prisoners	19:29	\|	Shadi-Gaza	09/09/07

4.	No to freeing terrorists	19:33	\|	Brod	09/09/07

5.	Between Meal Fasting	19:33	\|	Artur	09/09/07

6.	Release 100 terrorists to kill? Who? Iran or Israel? Wake up	19:37	\|	Robert	09/09/07

7.	1#	19:41	\|	Teacher	09/09/07

8.	release for the holiday	19:50	\|	Max	09/09/07

9.	I suppose	19:54	\|	r.m	09/09/07

10.	Haaretz..I could almost feel your pain	20:02	\|	SLAVO	09/09/07

11.	How about freeing Jews chaged with similar "nationalistic" crimes	21:22	\|	Binyamin Dissen	09/09/07

12.	And why not	22:50	\|	Adrian de Klerk	09/09/07

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