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| Israel approves prisoner releases | Israel approves prisoner releases |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Israel's cabinet has approved plans to release 250 Palestinian prisoners in a show of support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | Israel's cabinet has approved plans to release 250 Palestinian prisoners in a show of support for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| Israel's PM Ehud Olmert had reached a deal with Mr Abbas at a recent summit. | Israel's PM Ehud Olmert had reached a deal with Mr Abbas at a recent summit. |
| He is now set to approve a formal list of prisoners to be freed, all expected to belong to Mr Abbas' Fatah faction. | He is now set to approve a formal list of prisoners to be freed, all expected to belong to Mr Abbas' Fatah faction. |
| Mr Abbas formed an emergency government after Hamas fighters seized control of the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel and Western nations to resume formal ties. | Mr Abbas formed an emergency government after Hamas fighters seized control of the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel and Western nations to resume formal ties. |
| "We want to use every means that can strengthen the moderates within the Palestinian Authority," Mr Olmert said, speaking at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. | |
| The releases would be part of a strategy to create conditions for the start of "meaningful discussions", he added. | |
| About 10,000 Palestinian prisoners are being held in Israeli jails, some without charge. | |
| The last time Israel freed a significant number of Palestinian prisoners was in 2005, when almost 400 were released as part of a ceasefire deal. |