Israel's release of Palestinian prisoners delayed

JERUSALEM, Sep 9 (Reuters) Israel is unlikely to release from prison 100 members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, an Israeli government official said today.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who will meet Abbas in Jerusalem tomorrow, had been expected to announce the gesture ahead of Ramadan, which begins with the sighting of the new moon this week.

''It's a very low likelihood that it will be done before Ramadan,'' the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

''These are real acute issues that we have to think about.

It's something that will be done. But it's not going to be a gesture for Ramadan.'' An Israeli government said last week that Israel intended to free the 100 prisoners before the holiday.

Officials said the prisoners, all from the Gaza Strip, would have ''no blood on their hands'' and at least one year left on their sentences. They would be released on condition they signed a document promising not to be involved in violence.

Israel freed more than 250 Palestinian prisoners, mostly Fatah members, on July 20, in a bid to boost Abbas, whose faction lost the Gaza Strip to Hamas Islamists in fighting three months ago.

The Western-backed Abbas is engaged with Olmert in preparations for a US-proposed Middle East conference expected in November.

The prisoners issue is highly emotive for Palestinians, who see their 11,000 brethren held in Israeli jails as fighters for freedom from Israeli occupation in the West Bank.

REUTERS PD RK1915