SHARM EL-SHEIKH - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that he plans to release 250 prisoners from the Fatah movement of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
He made the announcement during a Middle East summit in Egypt which is aimed at bolstering Abbas since the violent takeover of the Gaza Strip by the rival Islamist movement Hamas 10 days ago.
Olmert said he would ask the cabinet to approve the release of 250 members of Fatah "without blood on their hands" in a gesture of goodwill to Abbas, whom he met shortly before the opening of the summit.
But he said those prisoners must commit to renounce "terrorism."
"It is important for every Palestinian to understand that we are extending a hand to those who are willing to have peace and reconciliation with us," he said. "There is no other solution than two states living in peace and security."
Olmert added that Israel was ready to work with Abbas and his new government.
Since the seizure of Gaza by Hamas, Abbas has sacked the unity government and created an emergency cabinet that enjoys the support of the West, but it has effectively split the Palestinians into two separate entities.
"Today, I informed (Abbas) that we will work with his new government and maintain continuous ties with it," said Olmert.
"We will undertake economic and security cooperation between us. We will improve the freedom of movement of the Palestinian population in (the West Bank) in a significant manner."
The summit, he added, could move the region "towards a better furture and create hope for the people of the region."
"The conditions are ripe for this. I intend to exhaust every avenue together with you so that we do not disappoint this hope and transform it into reality.
"I have no intention of delaying this. On the contrary, I will make every effort to expediate the process which will lead us to the existence of a Palestinian state alongside the state of Israel."
06/25/2007 18:07 GMT