GAZA CITY, 11 July 2003 — The Palestinian Authority leadership sought yesterday to present a united front by insisting the Israelis release more prisoners and by pledging support for Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. Palestinian security chief Mohammed Dahlan said he would call for the freedom of all the estimated 6,000 detainees in Israeli prisons at an upcoming meeting with Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz. Israel has so far considered the release of just 350 detainees.
“This meeting aims to complete the implementation of what had been agreed upon about the (Israeli troop) withdrawals, especially from the West Bank, but the main issue is the prisoners,” Dahlan told reporters in Gaza City. “The Palestinian position is still that we are asking for the release of all our prisoners.”
Meanwhile, an Egyptian military delegation was assured by radical groups which they helped persuade late last month to call a three-month halt to anti-Israeli attacks that they remained committed to the truce. Senior members of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah made their pledge after a joint meeting here with a military team headed by Gen. Mustafa Al-Buheeri that also met with Dahlan.
