JERUSALEM – Israel said Sunday it would free 170 jailed Palestinians in a gesture of gratitude for Egypt’s release two weeks ago of an Israeli Arab imprisoned for spying.
It would be the first sizable release of Palestinian prisoners in nearly a year and is aimed to be seen as a conciliatory move toward the interim Palestinian leadership following the death in November of Yasser Arafat.
The prisoners would likely be freed next week, according to Israeli reports.
Palestinian officials received the news with skepticism, saying previous releases by Israel have involved prisoners near the end of their sentences who for the most part were ordinary criminals rather than those jailed for political involvement.
“It would be useful to make these kinds of initiatives after dialogue and discussion with our side,” said Kadoura Fares, a Palestinian Cabinet member and lawmaker.
Israeli officials did not identify the prisoners to be released but said none were involved in violent attacks against Israelis. Most were militants affiliated with Fatah, the dominant faction of the PLO, Israeli media reported.
Israeli leaders decided against releasing members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, according to the media reports.
In a statement, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon called Sunday’s move “a gesture of goodwill, friendship and gratitude” to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Two weeks ago, Mubarak freed Azzam Azzam, an Israeli citizen convicted by Egypt in 1997 for espionage, charges that he and Israel steadfastly denied. In exchange, Israel released six Egyptian students suspected of plotting attacks inside Israel and promised to free Palestinian prisoners.
The planned release affects a relatively small portion of the more than 7,000 Palestinians held by Israel. Most of those approved for release are so-called security prisoners, while about 50 were arrested for entering Israel without permits, according to Israel Radio.
Israel has released prisoners from time to time, either as goodwill gestures or as part of negotiated deals.
Despite a two-day Israeli military offensive in the southern Gaza Strip that left 11 Palestinians dead and more than 30 others wounded, Palestinian militants continued to fire rockets at Israeli targets. Early Sunday, a volley landed in the southern Israeli town of Sderot, injuring two Israeli civilians.
The town sits near from the northern border of the Gaza Strip and is a frequent target of Palestinian rocket strikes.
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