MIDDLE EAST:Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert announced yesterday that he would release 250 Fatah members who are imprisoned in Israeli jails as part of a goodwill gesture aimed at bolstering Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in the wake of Hamas's takeover of the Gaza Strip.
Mr Olmert's announcement came at a summit with Mr Abbas and the leaders of Egypt and Jordan in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, which was aimed at boosting the Palestinian leader and his more moderate Fatah function, who now control the West Bank, and emphasising Hamas's isolation.
"As a gesture of goodwill towards the Palestinians, I will bring before the next meeting of the Israeli cabinet a proposal to free 250 Fatah prisoners who do not have blood on their hands, after they sign a commitment not to return to violence," the Israeli leader said in remarks at the end of the summit.
In line with its declared policy of strengthening Palestinian moderates, Israel also decided yesterday to transfer to Mr Abbas some of the hundreds of millions of dollars in customs duties it collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and which it froze after Hamas came to power last year.
While Mr Abbas called for the resumption of talks on final status issues, Mr Olmert was more reserved, saying that measures he was taking were aimed at reaching the point where such negotiations could take place.
"In these tumultuous times, I also see a chance," he said. "An opportunity has emerged to genuinely advance the regional diplomatic process. I do not intend to let this opportunity pass us by."
Mr Olmert said he had acceded to Mr Abbas's request that Israel continue to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. "We are not interested in punishing the population solely because they are ruled by a terrorist organisation," the Israeli leader said.
Just hours before the summit, Hamas militants released an audio tape of an Israeli soldier who has been held captive in Gaza for a year. In comments on the tape, clearly dictated by his captors, Sgt Gilad Shalit admonished the Israeli government for not doing enough to bring about his release.
Militants also released a chilling video tape yesterday of BBC reporter Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped more than three months ago in Gaza, wearing an explosives belt and cautioning that his captors would detonate the belt and blow up the hideout where he is being held if attempts are made to free him by force.
Israeli observers said the release of the audio tape of Sgt Shalit was an attempt by Hamas to send a message, on the day of the Sharm summit, that it could not be ignored. Some Israeli politicians yesterday called on the government to talk to Hamas in order to free the soldier.
"We must conduct negotiations with Hamas in the matter of Gilad Shalit," said Eli Yishai, a senior member of Mr Olmert's cabinet.
Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, who hosted the summit, and Jordan's King Abdullah, who also attended, both fear the Hamas takeover of Gaza could embolden extremists and ultimately threaten their rule. Both have been pushing Mr Olmert to take steps to bolster Mr Abbas.
Hamas leaders dismissed the summit and severely criticised Mr Abbas for attending.
"It is surprising that at a time when Abbas has shut the door on talks with Hamas, he is running and begging for a meeting with Olmert," said Mushir al-Masri, a senior member of the Islamic movement.