News Service from House Harris

MID: Israel to free 250 prisoners before Muslim holiday

NABLUS, West Bank, Nov 22 AP - 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 December 8. Muslims follow a lunarcalendar, 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 seta 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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