Abbas: No peace without prisoner release

Abbas makes televised speech in honor of Palestinian 'Prisoners' Day', determines release of all Palestinian prisoners condition for peace
Associated Press

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, on his third and last day of a tour in Moscow, said a release of all Palestinian prisoners must be part of any peace deal with Israel. Abbas delivered the televised address Thursday to mark The Palestinian Authority's 'Prisoners' Day'.

Peace Talks

Erekat: Abbas asked Olmert to accept Egyptian initiative for Gaza truce / Roni Sofer

(Video) Palestinian president arrives at prime minister's residence for second time in one week, following previous agreement to meet before Abbas leaves for Washington. White House's national security advisor to visit region on Wednesday in bid to speed up negotiations

Full story

Palestinian sources say about 8,500 Palestinian prisoners are held in Israeli jails and detention centers. Rallies and marches were held throughout the West Bank to mark Prisoners' Day.

Earlier Abbas had called for a conference to take place in Russia as soon as possible, which would discuss the fate of the Middle East. He said that the conference was scheduled to be held in June.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with Abbas twice during the past ten days. During the last meeting, which was held in the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Jerusalem, the two discussed negotiations between the two sides.

Their previous meeting took place on Monday of last week, and was the first to be held after a period of seven weeks during which they did not meet, due to the terror attack in Nahal Oz, and the military activity in Gaza. Following the meeting Saeb Erekat, chief Palestinian negotiator, criticized Israeli policy and said that the removal of road blocks in the Palestinian territories was nothing more than "public relations".