Israel agrees to free 90 Palestinian prisoners

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Source: CCTV.com | 09-24-2007 10:55

Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) speaks with Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel during the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, September 23, 2007.(Reuters photo)

The Israeli cabinet has approved the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners to strengthen Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas politically. Israel is holding thousands of other Palestinians in jail. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert says incursions by the Israeli military in the West Bank and Gaza have the government's full support.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Olmert's cabinet approved the proposed release in principle. A ministerial committee will meet later to finalize the list of prisoners.

In the past week, Israel has also continued to conduct arrest raids in the West Bank city of Nablus, which have resulted in the death of two militants and an Israeli soldier.

At the same cabinet meeting, Olmert reaffirmed his support for the military operations.