GOODWILL:

First a summit, now Israel frees 900 (Ian McKinnon, 2/04/05, Times of London)

ISRAEL agreed yesterday to pull back its forces from five key West Bank towns and to free 900 Palestinian prisoners in moves designed to improve the political climate before next week’s landmark Middle East summit.

A committee of senior Israeli ministers also agreed to halt the targeted killings of Palestinian fugitives in an effort to bolster the fledgeling peace process that began with the election of Mahmoud Abbas to succeed Yassir Arafat as Palestinian leader.

Both sides expressed hope that when Ariel Sharon, the Israeli Prime Minister, meets Mr Abbas in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Tuesday, they will declare a formal truce after more than four years of bloodshed.

Palestinian militant groups are already observing an unofficial ceasefire.

Don't hear much anymore about all the things Ariel Sharon would never do even to get a settlement....

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 4, 2005 8:28 AM