OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, 21 July 2003 — Israel agreed to free hundreds more Palestinian prisoners yesterday, disappointing Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas’ hopes for a full amnesty but keeping a US-backed peace road map in motion.

Abbas met Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at his Jerusalem residence and was promised that several hundred prisoners would be released, Palestinian Information Minister Nabil Amr told reporters, adding: “This is positive progress”.

An Israeli government source confirmed the number of candidates for release but said the list would be finalized after Sharon and Abbas hold separate meetings with US President George W. Bush in Washington later this month. The reformist Palestinian premier is also under pressure to satisfy militant groups from whom he coaxed a three-month truce on June 29. His efforts were not lost on ex-general Sharon.

“The prime minister told his counterpart that Israel cannot ignore the fact that recently (Palestinian) terrorism and incitement have diminished significantly,” Sharon’s office said.

But it added that Sharon had insisted Abbas dismantle militant groups before further Israeli withdrawals from reoccupied West Bank cities. Israel quit the West Bank city of Bethlehem and areas of Gaza this month.

“If they (Israel) release some of the prisoners, it’s not satisfactory,” said Ismail Abu-Shanab, a leader of Hamas.

With the list of prisoners for release not yet final, Israeli officials said earlier Sharon might relax criteria to enable members of Hamas and kindred group Islamic Jihad who were not involved in anti-Israeli attacks to go free.

Israel has ruled out releasing Palestinians “with blood on their hands” — involved in attacks on Israelis. Some government sources said these add up to around half of the 6,000 prisoners, suggesting more releases could be in store.

Yesterday’s meeting was Sharon’s fourth with Abbas since the Palestinian prime minister assumed the post in April as part of sweeping reforms demanded by the United States. The move sidelined Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, whom Israel accuses of fomenting violence. He denies it.

During their meeting, Abbas asked Sharon to lift restrictions on Arafat as well as easing travel conditions for Palestinians in general. Sharon’s office said Israel would weigh removing some checkpoints, but made no mention of Arafat.

Arafat also issued a decree yesterday banning any incitement to violence, one of the demands of the road map.

— With input from Agencies