Israel on Saturday agreed to grant amnesty to 178 wanted members of Fatah militants in a bid to show its support for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas after his break with Hamas.
The amnesty was stated in a deal between the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Israel, in which Israel promises to stop chasing the militants in the West Bank if they agree to disarm, according to Yedioth Ahronoth, an Israeli daily.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert confirmed the deal later Saturday, the report said.
Also on Saturday, al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, an offshoot of Abbas' secular Fatah faction, started signing forms with the militants guaranteeing them a pardon in return for their cease of violence.
Israeli officials noted that Zakariya Zubeidi, the head of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade, was not on the list of amnesty, but Zubeidi himself told reporters that PNA officials had informed that he would be included.
The deal also asks the militants to recognize and remain with the Palestinian security forces in the West Bank under Abbas' leadership, reports from the Palestinian side said.
The deal is another move taken by Israel to bolster Abbas since Hamas' violent takeover of the Gaza Strip a month ago. Last Sunday, The Israeli cabinet approved the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners as a good-will gesture to Abbas.
Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, pledged to struggle for Israel's destruction and was therefore regarded by Israel as an arch foe.
Israel wants to isolate Hamas in the Gaza Strip while allowing funds and goods to flow to Abbas and Salam Fayyad's government in the West Bank.
Fayyad, whom Abbas appointed prime minister after he dismissed the Hamas-led cabinet last month, has pledged to crack down on militants in the West Bank but said success hinged on Israel agreeing to stop pursuing the gunmen.
Source: Xinhua
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