Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said today he intends to free 400 more Palestinian prisoners in a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who holds White House talks this week.
In a speech to the most powerful US pro-Israel group, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, Mr Sharon also proposed coordinating with the Palestinian Authority Israel's planned mid-August pullout from the Gaza Strip.
He said such cooperation would enable Israel and the Palestinians "to embark on a new era of trust and build our relations with the Palestinian Authority".
In a gesture to Mr Abbas, who will meet US President George W. Bush on Thursday, Mr Sharon said he would seek the approval of his cabinet for the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners after he returns home later this week.
Israel freed 500 prisoners in February as part of understandings reached with Abbas at a February 8th summit when the two sides declared a ceasefire. But it froze the release of 400 more prisoners, citing Palestinian inaction in disarming militants.
The prisoner releases were intended to boost Abbas among the Palestinian public, who see the prisoners as fighters for freedom from Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza.
But Mr Sharon hammered home his bedrock position that there could be no progress on the US-backed peace road map until Mr Abbas disarmed and dismantled Palestinian militant groups.
"Until now the terrorist activities have not ceased ... and there is no real prevention of terrorist actions," Mr Sharon told a cheering crowd at the annual AIPAC convention, capping a three-day visit with US Jewish leaders.
His address was interrupted briefly by a heckler opposed to the withdrawal. She shouted "I live in Gush Katif", a reference to the main settlement bloc in Gaza, and "it's an expulsion, an expulsion", before being hustled out by security.