Olmert: I'll urge release of 250 Fatah prisoners

SHARM EL-SHEIKH – Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced Monday that he would ask the government to approve the release 250 Fatah prisoners “without blood on their hands” as a gesture of goodwill toward the Palestinians with a promise that they would not take part in terror activity. Addressing family members of the Palestinian prisoners, Olmert said, “I understand how much you miss your loved ones. It is just as important to us to bring our boys home as it is for you to bring your boys home. We won’t give up or let go until we get them back.” Speaking at the conclusion of the regional summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, the prime minister also referred to the recorded message from kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, which was posted on Hamas’ website earlier in the day. From left to right: Olmert, King Abdullah, Mubarak and Abbas at Sharm (Photo: GPO) “(Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas told me he was committed to bring about the release of Shalit. I believe his intentions are sincere, but he too is facing the Hamas threat,” Olmert said. He continued to say that “an opportunity to advance the political process has been created. The new government in the Palestinian Authority, that does not include terrorists, is a government we recognize. “I’ve informed Abu Mazen (Abbas) that we will transfer the tax funds and expand the commercial relationship between us and lead to economic prosperity,” Olmert added. “I want to turn directly to the leaders of the Arab countries and say that we cannot ignore (the Palestinian Authority’s) calls for the normalization of relations with Israel. This is your time to support us,” he said. 'We must start serious negotiations' Abbas said in his closing statement that "the region is standing at a crossroad. We have to choose between violence and peace. It is up to us which way we choose to go. "I call to my partner, Olmert, to open negotiations according to a fixed timetable for the creation of an independent Palestinian Start with east Jerusalem as its capital, to peacefully exist alongside Israel," he added. "We have a responsibility to our peoples to bring an end to the conflict, to bring a comprehensive just peace… I'm determined to continue without delay or despair, despite the situation in Gaza," said Abbas. Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said, “Sharm el-Sheik is a symbol of peace, the proof that even peace which seems beyond our reach in attainable." "This summit comes after two years in which we have seen many developments in the Israeli and Palestinian arenas. But we have also seen the peace process come to a halt,” he said. "Egypt has called this summit to renew hope – a goal Israelis, Palestinians and the world share." "We have come to an understanding as to the need to support Abu Mazen and the Palestinian Authority," added Mubarak. King Abdullah II of Jordan also spoke of the need to restart peace talks between the Palestinians and the Israelis: "I pledge to act for a true peace initiative. We must proceed according to the two-state principle – a Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel." "If we are to achieve this goal, we must start serious negotiations," said Abdullah. 'We won’t let anyone in Gaza starve' During his meeting with Mubarak earlier, Olmert asked the Egyptian leader to close the Philadelphi Route on the Egypt-Gaza border, saying, “The Rafah crossing is breached, and on the other side there is only Hamas. “The smuggling of weapons (into Gaza) must be stopped,” the Israeli PM said. Members of the Israeli delegation to the regional summit said the meeting was successful. Mubarak and Olmert discussed the recent developments in the Palestinian Authority, with the Israeli prime minister saying he intends to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also in Sharm. “I am willing to discuss a political horizon with him (Abbas),” Olmert said at the meeting, during which he thanked Mubarak for his efforts to help release Shalit. Mubarak’s spokesman Suleiman Awad said that during the meeting the Egyptian president addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “We won’t let anyone in Gaza starve the situation must be stabilized,” the spokesman quoted Mubarak as saying.

Olmert: I'll urge release of 250 Fatah prisoners

PM Ehud Olmert says he'll ask government to approve release 250 Fatah prisoners 'without blood on their hands' as gesture to Palestinians, tells Egyptian President Mubarak smuggling of weapons into Gaza Strip ‘must be stopped'