Israel Approves Release of 441 Prisoners

JERUSALEM, Israel (AP) -- The Israeli Cabinet on Monday approved the release of 441 Palestinian prisoners in a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but stopped short of U.S. demands to halt West Bank settlement construction before a crucial Mideast conference.

The Cabinet vote took place ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Abbas later in the day. The two men were trying to break a deadlock in preparations for the U.S.-hosted peace summit, which is expected to take place in Annapolis, Md., next week.

Israel sees the conference primarily as a ceremonial launching pad for new peace efforts, while the Palestinians want a more detailed plan for how post-conference talks will proceed.

Seeking to drum up support for the conference, Olmert is heading to Egypt on Tuesday for talks with President Hosni Mubarak, his office said. Arab League members are to decide on Friday whether they will join the gathering. High-level Arab attendance is seen as crucial to the success of nascent peace moves.

With the outcome of Annapolis uncertain, Israel has been under U.S. pressure to take steps, including a settlement freeze and a large-scale release of Palestinian prisoners, to bolster Abbas.

The Cabinet overwhelmingly approved Olmert's proposal to release 441 prisoners. Although the release would be the largest in years, it fell short of Palestinian calls to free some 2,000 prisoners. Israel holds an estimated 9,000 Palestinian prisoners.

"We welcome the release of any prisoners," said Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki. "But this is not enough.

Well, this ought to cause a change of heart regarding Israel among the palestinians.

:shaking head:

3 posted on 11/19/2007 7:39:43 AM PST by reagan_fanatic (Ron Paul put the cuckoo in my Cocoa Puffs)

Israel Approves Release of 441 Prisoners

And, Israel can expect the return of their kidnapped soldiers....when?

4 posted on 11/19/2007 7:41:29 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)

When will the Israeli prisoners from the 2006 war be released I thought there that freeing them was a precondition to negotiations?

5 posted on 11/19/2007 7:42:49 AM PST by bonehead4freedom (I need a good tag line!)

Stupid (repeat many times)

"But this is not enough".....

What a fools game this is.......

6 posted on 11/19/2007 7:50:06 AM PST by blasater1960 ( Dt 30, Ps 111, The Law is perfect, attainable, now and forever)

To: SmithL; Alouette; Salem; F15Eagle; Esther Ruth; T.L.Sink; American in Israel; Yehuda; Nachum; ...

Seems its getting about time for a repeat from the Book of Daniel, and the Almighty’s Hand writing “mene mene tekel uparshan” on the wall of Olmerde’s house and the cabinet meeting office.

7 posted on 11/19/2007 7:56:43 AM PST by Convert from ECUSA (A voter wavering between wanting radical change and burning the damn place down)

To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..

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8 posted on 11/19/2007 4:04:04 PM PST by SJackson (seems to me it is entirely proper to start a Zionist State around Jerusalem, T Roosevelt, neocon)

will they be allowed to vote?

9 posted on 11/19/2007 5:29:41 PM PST by Loud Mime (The Democrats made people believe that govt. lawyers are victims, whatta country!)

The palesite prisoners should be released at altitude..

10 posted on 11/19/2007 7:29:34 PM PST by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)

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