Israel approves release list
Updated on 17 July 2007
Israeli Cabinet ministers have approved a list of 256 Palestinian prisoners due to be released this week in a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, officials said.
David Baker, an official in Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's office, said the ministerial committee approved the release 7-2. He said the names of the prisoners would be published later, giving Israelis 48 hours to file legal challenges. But the prisoners are all expected to be freed on Friday, Mr Baker said.
The decision is meant to be a "goodwill gesture" to Mr Abbas, Mr Olmert's office said. Regarding the prisoners, the statement said "there is no blood on their hands," meaning none have been directly involved in deadly attacks on Israelis.
These news feeds are provided by an independent third party and Channel 4 is not responsible or liable to you for the same.
