Sharon offers help to Palestinian premier

Ariel Sharon was quoted as saying yesterday he wanted to help his Palestinian counterpart and would continue to release prisoners, but not those with “blood on their hands”.

“I, Ariel Sharon, want to help Prime Minister Abu Mazen,” he told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, referring to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas who is also called Abu Mazen.

“I want to help him because he is a man who believes that the only way to arrive at peace is not via violence, not terrorism. It’s through negotiation,” Mr Sharon said, adding violence had decreased since Palestinian militant factions called a truce in late June.

Israeli and Palestinian security chiefs failed on Thursday to advance the release of Palestinian prisoners, an issue which militants warned could topple the shaky ceasefire.

In the interview with Corriere, Mr Sharon said more prisoners would be freed. “For now we have released 280 prisoners. We will free others, but not the assassins, not those who have blood on their hands.”

Israel says the release of militants who have killed Israelis or who belong to Islamic groups could endanger a new US-backed peace plan rather than strengthen it.

The plan, known as the “road map”, calls for confidence building measures on both sides leading to the creation of a Palestinian state in 2005.

“We will proceed, releasing as many (prisoners) as possible. We are doing it for humanitarian reasons and to give a hand to Abu Mazen,” he added.

Palestinian officials say Israel still holds 8,000 Palestinians, including minors, arrested since an uprising for independence began in September 2000.