Jerusalem - An Israeli ministerial committee approved Sunday the release of 230 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice. All the prisoners to be freed are identified with President Mahmoud Abbas' secular Fatah movement, an Israeli government statement said, and none were jailed for action in which people were killed.
The full Israeli cabinet decided on the prisoner release on November 30.
The Israeli army, meanwhile, announced it was relaxing some of its procedures in the West Bank to mark the Eid al-Adha holiday, including allowing Palestinian families from the West Bank to enter Israel to visit families, and allowing Israeli Arabs to enter Palestinian-run territory in the West Bank.
In addition, four West Bank crossing points would have their hours of operation extended, and the Alleny Bridge and Mussa Alawi crossings into Jordan would be open 24 hours a day, the Israeli military said in a statement.
