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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. (AP) Last update - 18:05 17/04/2008 Abbas says no peace with Israel unless all prisoners released By The Associated Press Tags: Russia, Israel  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in televised speech Thursday that a release of all Palestinian prisoners must be part of any peace deal with Israel. Abbas delivered the televised address Thursday to mark Palestinian Prisoners' Day. About 8,500 Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli jails and detention centers. Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are trying to reach a peace deal by the end of the year. Rallies and marches are planned throughout the West Bank on Thursday to mark Prisoners' Day. The fate of prisoners is one of the most emotionally charged issues of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinians see prisoners as heroes in the struggle for statehood. To many Israelis, they are terrorists out to destroy the state. Advertisement On Thursday, Abbas said that a Middle East peace conference will be held in Moscow in June. "We have great hopes the conference will move forward the peace process between Palestinians and Israel, and that it will lay the grounds for the overall peace process for the entire Middle East that will include Syria and Lebanon," Abbas said in a lecture at a Moscow university. Abbas is expected to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the end of his three-day visit Friday. Israel has been cool to the idea of a Moscow conference, which Russia proposed immediately after the Annapolis talks in November. The conference would likely put a greater emphasis on bringing Israel and Syria back to the negotiating table after eight silent years. Putin is due to return to Moscow on Friday after visiting Libya and Italy. Russia is a member of the so-called Quartet seeking to broker Middle East peace, along with the United States, the European Union and the United Nations. Unlike other Quartet members, Russia recognizes the legitimacy of Hamas, the militant party that holds a majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament. That could give Russia considerable influence as a mediator, observers say. Hamas is unlikely, however, to be invited to the conference. Abbas' visit to Russia is his fourth as Palestinian leader. He earned a doctorate in history at Moscow State University in the 1980s Bookmark to del.icio.us   A gentleman's word Olmert tells Haaretz he knows Iran won't have nuclear capacity. Farewell to arms B'Tselem says IDF must ban wide-range shell that killed civilians in Gaza.   1.   Chasing his own shadow ... 13:15  |  EyeOnPal 17/04/08   2.   Russia should invite Hamas,otherwise this Conference will turn 13:30  |  lakshmi 17/04/08   3.   Citizens: no peace with Palestinians until all militants disarmed 13:31  |  Joe Sittizen 17/04/08   4.   Abbas looking for concessions without having to accept Israel 13:38  |  Sam 17/04/08   5.   Abbas the moderate 13:45  |  Hilda 17/04/08   6.   a reasonable proposal 14:37  |  potobac 17/04/08   7.   Dreamer 14:49  |  Mary 17/04/08   8.   Mr. Abbas, when you recognize Israel`s right to exist will we 14:57  |  Yoel 17/04/08   9.   abbas the standup comedian with more funnies 14:59  |  v hardman 17/04/08   10.   Why not "all terrorist victims restored to health"? 15:08  |  Binyamin DIssen 17/04/08   11.   I guess there`s no peace 15:48  |  judith 17/04/08   12.   Release them all 15:54  |  peter 17/04/08   13.   Pals terrorize Israel but focus on Israeli "killing machines" 15:54  |  Sam 17/04/08   14.   Seems to be nothing but fair, but in return...... 16:08  |  Swiss (Dino) 17/04/08   15.   So RIDICULOUS! Abbas says NoPeace 16:24  |  Dagma 17/04/08   16.   Cause and effect 16:39  |  Sam C 17/04/08   17.   Peace if Israel release all prisoners...how cynical! 16:55  |  Elie 17/04/08   18.   One word: nagganahappan 17:00  |  Mark 17/04/08   19.   This joker is hopeless 17:05  |  Nechama 17/04/08   20.   no more talks 17:17  |  vik 17/04/08   21.   Abbas: We`ll Give Murdered Israelis Their Lives Back, Too 17:55  |  Tex 17/04/08   22.   Abbas` Demand - Considering He`s Dealing With Idiots, Why Not ? 18:35  |  Tod Zuckerman 17/04/08   23.   Dear Mr. PM Olmert & Leaders of the World 18:58  |  Please think of us! 17/04/08   24.   "Prisoners" invading Israel to murder civilians are war criminals 18:58  |  Dr. L. Brnd 17/04/08   25.   3 Sittizen 19:03  |  Jose Marcio 17/04/08   26.   Empty ALL prisons and send them to Ramallah 19:15  |  steve from raleigh 17/04/08   27.   Bravo Abbas, no deal! 19:27  |  Rachel 17/04/08   28.   abbas 19:28  |  Shmuelshachor 17/04/08   29.   abbASS 20:09  |  Marc 17/04/08   30.   This guy is a joke! 20:10  |  Yoni 17/04/08   31.   Without Trials 20:11  |  El-Birawi 17/04/08   32.   In about 60 years they will die of old age 20:11  |  Ilan 17/04/08   33.   This is Great News.. 20:23  |  a 17/04/08   34.   Chutzpah! 20:35  |  Mike 17/04/08   35.   Wasnt Abbas a moderate? 21:18  |  KUTW 17/04/08   36.   @28, el biravi, please give your sources. 21:32  |  vladimir 17/04/08   37.   Chutzpah--Mike # 30 22:47  |  Marc 17/04/08   38.   Rachel 22:49  |  Moe Katz 17/04/08   39.   What is it w/ Putin and Bush? 23:17  |  MaryRose 17/04/08   40.   No Peace Unless. 23:18  |  Avi 17/04/08   41.   No peace until jail completely full of criminals 23:22  |  Avi 17/04/08   42.   #28 El-Birawi 23:26  |  MaryRose 17/04/08   43.   l brnd 32 23:40  |  potobac 17/04/08   44.   abbas 00:09  |  rico 18/04/08   45.   #14, Dino 01:56  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/04/08   46.   Carter 02:42  |  Gershon Ron 18/04/08   47.   Peace at any price? 04:00  |  utagawa 18/04/08   48.   That`s how it worked 4 Brittan with the IRA 04:05  |  jon 18/04/08   49.   This government is not capable of responding correctly to Abbas 04:31  |  Shepherd 18/04/08   50.   Dear Jon 04:47  |  Straight Talk 18/04/08   51.   abbas still doesn`t get it. or wants failure so can stay ruler 04:57  |  ralph 18/04/08   52.   Chimp beats breast, makes sounds 05:44  |  Mark Lincoln 18/04/08   53.   Olmert says no peace with Gaza unless Terror Attack Stops! 06:42  |  Magnify 18/04/08   54.   #48 - Jon in New York 09:27  |  Michael 19/04/08

Read & React Editorial: Israel can't demolish all of Gaza Responses: 150 IDF troops do nothing as Hebron settlers threaten German MPs Responses: 164 Rice: Syria 'most certainly an issue in nuclear proliferation' Responses: 64 Carter meets Hamas leader, sets out plans for Israel-Hamas truce Responses: 72 Yishai to Carter: Tell Meshal that I want to discuss prisoner swap Responses: 41 Rosner's Domain The Passover test and The Passion of Passover Just say no to Carter Poll: What is Carter doing in the Middle East? Let the debate begin: what's a "pro-Israeli" position? Clinton: Massive retaliation if Israel attacked (WTR) More Headlines 09:34 6 IDF soldiers wounded in explosion on Gaza border 09:17 Carter and Hamas' Meshal meet for 2nd time in Syria on Israel-Hamas truce 04:17 Qassam hits power line in Sderot causing blackout 04:20 Israel: PA can reopen 20 police stations in West Bank 02:46 Egypt: 'Good progress' made in Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks 03:44 Pope Benedict XVI gets warm welcome at New York synagogue 07:30 IDF: Reuters reporter risked his life by going to Bil'in 23:25 Muslim preacher sentenced in Britain for supporting terrorism 19:38 Boim: 'Natural growth' reason for 100 new settlement homes 04:26 Iranian official: Asian traders make up for losses due to German sanctions 20:05 The Israeli 'settler' serving in Italy's parliament 20:22 IDF kills militant leader wanted in plot to poison Ramat Gan restaurant 18:48 IDF troops do nothing as Hebron settlers threaten German MPs Previous Editions Select Day 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr 08 apr 07 apr 06 apr

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