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Palestinian prisoners being released in the West Bank on Monday. (Nir Kafri)
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Last update - 08:27 03/10/2007
PM denies tension with IDF chief over release of Gaza prisoners
By Barak Ravid, Amos Harel and Anshel Pfeffer

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office denied rumors of tension Tuesday between Olmert and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi over a letter Ashkenazi had sent to Defense Minister Ehud Barak protesting Israel's release of prisoners to Gaza.

The media had earlier quoted anonymous Olmert associates as criticizing the letter, in which Ashkenazi said it was immoral to release Gazans held by Israel while soldier Gilad Shalit remained a Hamas captive in Gaza.

"We still do not know who these associates are, and this is not our position," Olmert's bureau said.

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Israel released 29 Palestinian prisoners to Gaza Tuesday, after releasing 57 prisoners to the West Bank on Monday, as a gesture to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas for Ramadan. The Gaza release took place a day late because President Shimon Peres delayed signing the pardons.

A senior official in Olmert's bureau blamed "politically interested" parties for the rumors, saying the relationship between the prime minister and the chief of staff was "one of complete confidence."

Olmert's bureau added that Ashkenazi had a right to send the letter, but that "the defense minister supported the release of the prisoners from beginning to end."

Barak also backed Ashkenazi Tuesday, and the Defense Ministry said the minister viewed the letter as a legitimate move on Ashkenazi's part.

In explaining the one-day delay, Peres said Tuesday: "I had to check everything from a legal and practical standpoint, and it took longer than I thought." He would not say whether Ashkenazi's letter influenced him, but insisted there was no pressure on him.



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  1.   What a corrupt f--ked up Olmert, Peres gov`t! 06:11  |  bat yam 03/10/07
  2.   Ashkenazi 06:33  |  Silvienne 03/10/07
  3.   TIME FOR A MILITARY COUP TO TAKE OVER 07:50  |  THE LIBRARIAN 03/10/07
  4.   silvienne- duh 07:57  |  peter 03/10/07
  5.   I salute you! 08:38  |  Reuben Josephson 03/10/07
  6.   ASHKENAZI MISSED THE POINT ENTERILY 08:39  |  Robert 03/10/07
  7.   Our corrupt government 08:45  |  izad 03/10/07
  8.   OLMERT 09:11  |  Dagma 03/10/07
  9.   To Silvienne # 2 - Has Ashkenazie forgotten 09:21  |  Dolly 03/10/07
  10.   Gabi. 10:12  |  sandra chitayat 03/10/07
  11.   Silvienne @ 2 11:20  |  ChanahS 03/10/07
  12.   Personal politics before human reactions. 13:03  |  H.H.M 03/10/07
  13.   Gilad Shalit a Hamas captive in Gaza. 14:05  |  Neil Golan 03/10/07
  14.   @#2 Silvienne 14:07  |  Aruach 03/10/07
  15.   #2 Ashkenazi 14:43  |  * BEN JABO 03/10/07
  16.   #14 Auruch 14:51  |  Ibn Musa 03/10/07
  17.   NON CONFIDENCE VOTE 15:13  |  Nachum of Sterot! 03/10/07
  18.   It`s time for a Junta to take power 16:20  |  * BEN JABO 03/10/07
  19.   #9, Dolly... 06:04  |  Silvienne 04/10/07
  20.   #11, ChanahS.... 06:07  |  Silvienne 04/10/07
  21.   #16, Ibn Musa... 06:11  |  Silvienne 04/10/07
  22.   The result of weakness 08:54  |  Brod 04/10/07
  23.   #9 Silvienne to Dolly 11:49  |  * BEN JABO 04/10/07
  24.   Silvienne 11:53  |  Ibn Musa 04/10/07
  25.   #23, Ben Jabo... 17:27  |  Silvienne 04/10/07
  26.   BEN JABO, Ibn Musa, ChanahS, et.al. Re: # 24 Silvienne 00:48  |  Jim 05/10/07
  27.   #25 Silvienne 01:36  |  * BEN JABO 05/10/07
  28.   #26 Jim - Are you the Jim from Tenn?? 01:40  |  * BEN JABO 05/10/07
  29.   #27, Ben Jabo... 05:42  |  Silvienne 05/10/07
  30.   #28, Ben Jabo...to Jim #26 05:44  |  Silvienne 05/10/07
  31.   Ben Jabo... 05:55  |  Silvienne 05/10/07
  32.   #29 Silvienne 17:32  |  * BEN JABO 05/10/07
  33.   #30 Silvienne 17:34  |  * BEN JABO 05/10/07
  34.   #31 Silvienne 17:38  |  * BEN JABO 05/10/07
  35.   #34, Ben Jabo... 04:45  |  Silvienne 06/10/07
  36.   Silvienne - why must you always 05:33  |  * BEN JABO 06/10/07
  37.   #26, Jim....2nd TRY 05:33  |  Silvienne 06/10/07
  38.   #37 Silvienne 01:36  |  Jim 07/10/07
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