Israel to free 250 Palestinian prisoners

Occupied Jerusalem: Israel on Sunday announced it will release 250 Palestinian prisoners as a show of goodwill to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The 250 prisoners will be released in the occupied West Bank before the Eid Al Adha Muslim holiday, officials said. At least 11,000 Palestinians are in Israeli jails.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had promised to free the prisoners earlier this month during a meeting with Abbas.

Olmert's spokesman, Mark Regev, said the decision to free the prisoners was a "confidence-building measure".

Regev said Israel will release prisoners from the ranks of Abbas's Fatah faction and other non-Islamist groups.