Friday, February 4 2005 11:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jerusalem: A special Ministerial team headed by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday (Feb 03, 2005) approved a draft of concessions, including release of 900 Palestinian prisoners, Israel intends to carry out as a goodwill gesture at the regional summit in Sharmel-Sheikh next week, officials said. The Ministers decided to release 900 Palestinian prisoners, 500 immediately and the other 400 in three months.

A participant said that no Palestinian with "blood on their hands" would be freed under the decision.

The senior Cabinet Ministers and security officials also agreed to a pullout from the West Bank town of Jericho and a halt to the much condemned policy of "targeted killings" to prepare a conducive environment for kick-starting peace negotiations.

Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz told the Ministers that Bethlehem, Qalqiliya and Tulkarem would be handed over next, followed by Ramallah.

The committee also gave its consent to the formation of a joint Israeli-Palestinian committee to decide about the fate of wanted elements.

"We are not talking about peace now and not about the 'road map,' but rather about phases that come before implementation of the road map," Sharon told the committee.

Meanwhile, Israeli and Palestinian leaders expressed hope of declaration of a truce at the summit amid signs of revival of the stalled peace process.

"You can hear the Palestinian leader (Abbas) saying from Sharm el-Sheikh that the Palestinian side is committed to stop all kinds of violence against Israelis anywhere - period," senior PA Cabinet Minister Saeb Erkat told Army Radio.

Vice Premier Shimon Peres expressed optimism that "there will be an official declaration of an armistice, on the cessation of all acts of violence."

Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman, Mahmoud Abbas, fresh from his five-country trip said that he has reached an agreement with the militant factions to stop violence and Israel should follow suite.

"We have announced a cease-fire and the Israelis should announce one also," Abbas said.

Sharon and Abbas on Wednesday (Feb 02, 2005) accepted an Egyptian offer to participate in a regional summit with Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II.