Israel releases Palestinian prisoners

Israel freed more than 300 Palestinian prisoners today, delivering them into the arms of waiting families in near-simultaneous releases across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

But Palestinians widely dismissed Israel's move as an empty gesture that fell far short of the mass release they had argued would help push forward the "road map" peace plan.

Four buses, escorted by Israeli police, arrived at Tarqumiya checkpoint in the southern West Bank, one of five handover points. Prisoners leaned from windows and made victory signs before the buses crossed into the Palestinian areas, where they were greeted by whistles and cheers from hundreds of waiting relatives. Other groups were released at Tulkarem, Beitunya and Salem crossings in the West Bank.

Minutes earlier, a Palestinian taxi carried the first batch of men from Israel's Erez checkpoint into Gaza, where they were greeted by relatives waving flags and chanting "Welcome" and "God is Great." Some of the men emerged from the taxi and kissed the ground before embracing their families.

Hussein Abu Eid, aged 32, who served 13 years of a 15-year sentence for membership in the militant group Islamic Jihad, kissed and embraced his father for several minutes. "I miss you, my father. I wish my mother were still alive to see me and bring happiness to her heart," he said.

Israel agreed to free about 440 prisoners as a goodwill gesture. Most were released today, but about 100 criminal detainees will be freed later. The Palestinians have rejected the release as inadequate and want thousands freed.

Several dozen of the freed prisoners belonged to the Islamic militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Palestinian sources said. Most of the inmates were either being held without charge or serving sentences of two years or less.

"It is really ridiculous to have all this celebration," said Awad Allah Mishel, freed after serving all but two weeks of a three-year sentence for membership in Hamas. Making a point repeated throughout the day by Palestinians, he said, "They are releasing those who have almost finished their sentences."

The prisoners have become a major sticking point to progress on the US-backed road map peace plan. Israel is holding about 7,700 prisoners - most accused of involvement in terrorism - and has ruled out a mass release, especially as long as the militant groups remain armed.

The head of the Palestinian Prisoners' Club in the West Bank, Khaleda Jarar, said almost half the prisoners being freed were administrative detainees held without charge. Of the remaining prisoners serving sentences, she said, 80 per cent were in the final year of their terms.

The Palestinian Authority said that as a protest it was not organising official welcome ceremonies for those freed.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has called the release a "deceit," and his spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeineh said Wednesday that Israel "should release all the prisoners."

Palestinian premier Abu Mazen called off a planned meeting today with Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon mostly because of the prisoner dispute.