Sharon hardens line on freeing jailed Palestinians

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon yesterday ruled out the release of more Palestinian prisoners until the Palestinian Authority moved against militants, hardening his line towards President Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian officials accused Israel of acting in bad faith by suspending the implementation of confidence-building deals reached at a February 8 ceasefire summit that revived hopes of a Middle East peace process after four-and-a-half years of bloodshed.

Israel freed 500 jailed Palestinians on February 21 as part of a pledge to release 900 prisoners in a goodwill gesture towards the moderate Abbas after the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

A senior Israeli government official said Mr Sharon set new conditions for freeing prisoners, telling his Cabinet yesterday: "Let it be clear, there will be no prisoner release before steps are taken against terror."

"Everyone asks me to strengthen Abu Mazen, but I tell them, not at the expense of Israeli lives," Mr Sharon, using Mr Abbas's popular name, was quoted by the official as saying.

"The Palestinians are doing nothing about this issue. It would be a mistake of the first order to make even the smallest concession on security. We cannot give them the opportunity to wage a continuous campaign of fire towards Jewish communities."

Mr Abbas is under enormous domestic pressure to secure freedom for 8,000 prisoners, among the most emotive issues for ordinary Palestinians, many of whom have relatives in Israeli jails and see their release as a sign of peace and goodwill.