Israel has begun the release of a number of Palestinian prisoners in an effort to bolster Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, in his power struggle with Hamas.
Ian Domnitz, a spokesman for the prisons authority, said: "We have begun to free 256 prisoners, including six women."
A first batch of around 120 Palestinians signed early release papers and, bound and handcuffed, boarded buses early on Friday outside Kitsiyot prison in southern Israel.
From there they will be driven to the West Bank city of Ramallah to be greeted by Abbas and reunited with families.
|
"The refusal by the US, EU et al to deal with Hamas reflects their disrespect for the wishes of the Palestinian people"
Elise, Bemidji, US
Send us your views |
The transfer is scheduled to be completed by around midday.
Israeli officials said 85 per cent of the prisoners being released were from the president's Fatah faction.
The others are from smaller groups such as the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [PFLP].
Among those to be released is Abdel Rahim Malouh, second-in-command of the PFLP, which carried out the assassination of Rehavam Zeevi, an Israeli cabinet minister, in 2001.
Possible mediator
None of the prisoners being freed on Friday was directly involved in attacks on Israelis, according to Israeli officials.
Malouh, 61, was arrested in 2003 and is said to be ill.
A member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee, he is considered close to Abbas and could serve as a mediator with Hamas.
Israel continues to hold about 10,500 Palestinian prisoners.