Israel frees dozens to help Abbas

July 20, 2007

About 250 Palestinian prisoners go free as Israel aims to boost the Abbas government over Hamas. Israel released dozens of Palestinian prisoners on Friday as part of a U.S.-backed deal to bolster Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah government. Western powers are pushing the plan to marginalise Hamas, which routed Fatah forces in Gaza last month, leaving Abbas in charge only in the West Bank.