The Israeli cabinet approved Sunday morning the free scores of Palestinian captives in a step directed to indicate goodwill ahead of elections to replace Yasser Arafat as Palestinian Authority chairman, Israeli officials said. The moce to release 100-200 Palestinian prisoners comes as part of the deal in which Israeli spy Azzam Azzam was released from an Egyptian prison last week.
The prisoner release is expected to take place next week after the completion of all necessary bureaucratic preparations.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon voiced harsh criticism at the local media Sunday morning, for attacking the behavior and ethics of Israeli soldiers.
In the weekly cabinet meeting, Sharon said the media has a "sick passion" for publishing reports on acts by Israeli soldiers against Palestinians.
According to Haaretz, his criticism came following a spate of recent media reports on misconduct by troops, including coverage of the "confirmed killing" of a 13-year-old Palestinian girl by an Israeli officer in the Gaza Strip.
