Israel to free 250 prisoners before Muslim holiday

Palestinian Prez Mahmoud Abbas says Israel will free hundreds of prisoners as a goodwill gesture before an upcoming Muslim holiday.

Updated on: Nov 22, 2008, 15:35:02 IST

AP | By HT Correspondent, Nablus

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas says Israel will free hundreds of prisoners as a goodwill gesture before an upcoming Muslim holiday.

Abbas said at a conference in the northern West Bank town of Nablus on Saturday that Israel will release 250 prisoners before Eid al-Adha, an important Muslim holiday.

The holiday is expected to take place on Dec 8 Muslims follow a lunar calendar, and the expected date of religious holidays can vary slightly.

Israel Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced last week he'd release the prisoners.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli Prime Minister says Olmert is expected to set a release date after he meets with Abbas again. The issue of thousands of prisoners are in Israeli jails is extremely sensitive for Palestinians.

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