OLMERT TO RELEASE 250 FATAH PRISONERS

Olmert to release 250 Fatah prisoners (JPost)
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday he will release 250 Fatah members from Israeli prisons in a goodwill gesture aimed at boosting Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas after Hamas's victory in Gaza.

Olmert made the announcement at a summit with Abbas and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II in Sharm e-Sheikh that the Arabs and Palestinians are hoping can push forward the peace process and strengthen Abbas's hand.

HOW MANY HAVE BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS? WHY DOES ISRAEL ALWAYS MAKE "GOODWILL GESTURES" AND GET NOTHING IN RETURN. WOULD A "GOODWILL GESTURE" FROM ABBAS BE APPROPRIATE? HOW ABOUT A CESSATION OF TERROR, OR RE-WRITING THE FATAH CHARTER TO DELETE THE CALL FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL? IS THIS ASKING TOO MUCH OF A "MODERATE" "PEACE PARTNER?"