Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Israel agreed to settle the issue of 64 wanted Palestinian fighters and activists, security sources said on Wednesday.
In a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian security officers, Israel granted amnesty to the 64 activists, said the source, adding that "Israel pledged to stop chasing down the men and not to intercept them."
About forty former fighters got full amnesty "in which they enjoy a complete freedom" and others got a partial amnesty "in which Israel will not chase down them as long as they stay in Palestinian-controlled territory," the sources said.
The Palestinian security forces started to release the activists whom were held in the prisons in the West Bank city of Nablus.
The move comes a day after Israel freed 198 Palestinian prisoners to bolster the position of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and to give a thrust to the peace talks between the two sides.
Israel and the PNA reached several deals to grant amnesty for dozens of the fighters who are members of Abbas' Fatah party. The talks for the amnesty were part of the PNA campaign to impose law and order in the West Bank.
The PNA enhanced the efforts to tighten its grip on the West Bank for fears of a possible takeover by Islamic Hamas movement. Last summer, Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces in Gaza and took over the coastal strip.
Source:Xinhua
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