JERUSALEM, July 8 (UPI) -- Israeli officials have approved the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners to boost the administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Israeli and Palestinian officials also said talks were under way to set up a meeting between Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, The New York Times reported Sunday.
Olmert said at a June meeting in Egypt that Israel would release prisoners belonging to Abbas' Fatah faction.
Israeli government spokesman David Baker said the release was intended to "shore up" Abbas and his new emergency government -- which operates in the West Bank following the takeover of Gaza by Hamas, Fatah's rival.
A political adviser to Abbas told the Times the release of 250 prisoners was "a very, very limited step." Also, Nimr Hamad said Israel had rejected a Palestinian request to coordinate on which prisoners Israel would release.
Palestinian officials say an estimated 10,500 Palestinians are being held in Israeli jails. Israel released 500 Palestinian prisoners in February 2005, after Abbas was elected president.
