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Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A61404-2005Feb3.html
Israel to Free 900 Palestinian Prisoners
(AP/Washington Post) Ravi Nessman - Senior Israeli Cabinet ministers on Thursday approved the release of 900 Palestinian prisoners and the handover of the West Bank town of Jericho to Palestinian control in coming days - gestures meant to build goodwill ahead of next week's Mideast summit. Some 500 prisoners would be released shortly after Tuesday's summit. The remaining 400 prisoners would be freed within three months. Israeli government spokesman David Baker said the Israeli concessions were made "despite scores of terror-related incidents in Gaza, and the Palestinian Authority has not made one meaningful arrest." Sharon told his security Cabinet it is still premature to talk about restarting road map negotiations. "We are not talking about peace now, and not about the road map, but rather about phases that come before the implementation of the road map," Sharon said.