Wednesday, September 13 2006 12:44 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Gaza City: Hamas officials yesterday (Sept 13, 2006) gave Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas the go-ahead for negotiations with Israel, a major shift in the militant Islamic group's position toward the Jewish state as it worked to end its international isolation.

As Palestinian officials pushed ahead with efforts to form a national unity government, an Israeli military court ordered the release of 18 Hamas officials including Cabinet ministers and lawmakers from an Israeli prison.

The men, arrested by Israel following the June 25 capture of Israeli Cpl. Gilad Shalit by Hamas-linked militants, will remain behind bars for several more days pending an appeal by prosecutors.

Israeli officials said the court decision was not meant to reward Hamas for its moves toward moderation.

"I don't think that right now we would be making gestures of goodwill for the Hamas. We would be making gestures of goodwill to Abu Mazen," Israeli Government spokeswoman Miri Eisin said, referring to the moderate Abbas by his nickname. Eisin said the courts were independent of the Government.

Hamas, whose ideology calls for Israel's destruction,reached agreement yesterday with Abbas' Fatah Party to form a unity government in an effort to end the financial crisis crippling the Palestinian economy. International donors cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority when Hamas formed its Cabinet six months ago. Hamas is listed as a terror group by Israel and the West.