Israel to free 400 prisoners

Last update: November 12, 2007 - 8:36 PM

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert pledged Monday to release more than 400 Palestinian prisoners before a U.S.-sponsored peace conference this month in Annapolis, Md.

The release is meant to bolster moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas just as tensions rise between his Fatah movement and Hamas.

Saeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, said the Palestinians would welcome the release, "but we also want a written commitment to release all prisoners when we sign a peace treaty." Israel holds a total of nearly 9,000 Palestinian prisoners.

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