Israel to release militants as roadblocks demolished
Just hours before Sharon’s arrival in Washington, the Israeli Cabinet approved the release of Islamic militants from prison and tore down some troublesome West Bank roadblocks in what were seen as an attempt to counter Palestinian charges of Israeli recalcitrance in peacemaking.
Palestinian prime minister Mahmoud Abbas presented a list of complaints against the Israelis in a meeting with Bush, ahead of Sharon’s White House talks today.
Sharon yesterday met Condoleezza Rice, Bush’s national security adviser, and leaders of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Abbas cited Israel’s refusal to free thousands of Palestinian prisoners. He also called for a halt to construction work on settlements in the West Bank and to a wall separating the West Bank from Israel.
Supplying Sharon with some capital to expend during his White House talks, his first since October last year, the Cabinet reversed an earlier position and agreed to free imprisoned members of the violent Hamas and Islamic Jihad, the two groups responsible for almost all of the nearly 100 suicide bombing attacks that have killed more than 300 Israelis in 33 months.
A senior Israeli official travelling with Sharon said that about 540 prisoners would be released within a week, about 210 from the Islamic groups, a similar number from Fatah, headed by Yasser Arafat and Abbas and the remainder common criminals. The official said the Cabinet decision did not quote numbers of prisoners to be released rather, criteria for deciding who was eligible.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said: “We welcome steps like this that improve the relationship between Israelis and the Palestinian Authority and help facilitate progress toward peace.”
Asked about the limited release, which the Palestinians said is not sufficient, McClellan said: “No one should want anyone released that had blood on their hands.”
Palestinian officials said that, of the 7,700 prisoners Israel is holding, 3,000 could be freed with no threat to Israel’s security.
Hamas leaders threatened to renew attacks against Israelis unless all prisoners were released.
Hard-line members of the Israeli Cabinet denounced the decision, approved by a vote of 14-9. The released prisoners “may return to acts of terror,” warned Housing Minister Effie Eitam of the hawkish National Religious Party.
Israel has also pledged to withdraw from two additional West Bank towns, and dismantled three West Bank roadblocks.
At a roadblock outside Ramallah, a crowd of Palestinians cheered as an Israeli bulldozer cleared huge cement blocks from the road.
The roadblocks, in place since the beginning of the violence in September, 2000, have severely restricted movement in the West Bank, crippling the economy and causing severe hardships. Israel has said the roadblocks are necessary to stop attackers.
