Israel frees nine Jordanian prisoners as goodwill gesture

Israel freed nine of the 18 Jordanians in its jails Thursday, in keeping with a recent pledge to improve ties between the two countries.

Seven of the prisoners traveled by bus across the Jordan River at the Allenby Bridge, which links Jordan with Israel and the West Bank. The remaining two decided to stay with family in Palestinian Authority areas.

Jordan had demanded the prisoners' release after returning its ambassador to Tel Aviv in February following a four-year absence during the Palestinian intifada that has calmed in the past three months.

The cabinet decided Sunday to free the prisoners, none of whom were involved in deadly attacks against Israelis.

Two of the prisoners who wished to be released to the Palestinian Authority remained, however, in prison.

"We want to improve and strengthen the relations between Israel and Jordan," Vice Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told reporters on Sunday explaining the release.

"I am very happy that we can make this gesture to honor the king of Jordan," he said.

A Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman said earlier this month that Amman hoped most of the 18 jailed Jordanians would go free but acknowledged that Israel was unlikely to release those involved in the killing of Israelis.

Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994. Since the start of the intifada in 2000, several Jordanians have left Jordan to join Palestinian militant groups that have carried out attacks against soldiers and civilians.