Two Palestinians jailed for their involvement in deadly attacks against Israelis are among 200 prisoners to be released by the Israeli authorities.
Said al-Attaba and Mohammed Ibrahim Abu Ali, imprisoned for more than 25 years, will be freed as a goodwill gesture to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
Israel rarely releases those convicted of killing its citizens.
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Israeli media said al-Attaba, 56, has been serving a life sentence since 1977 for the death of an Israeli woman in an attack.
Muhammad Abu Ali, known as Abu Ali Yatta, was reportedly jailed in 1980 for killing an Israeli reservist in Hebron, and is also said to have killed a Palestinian suspected of collaborating with Israel.
The office of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert released a statement saying: "This is a gesture and a trust-building move aimed at bolstering the moderates in the Palestinian Authority and the peace process."
'Conveying weakness'
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the move, and called for more prisoners to be freed.
But there was a chorus of dissent from Israeli politicians, including Shaul Mofaz, one of the contenders to succeed Mr Olmert when he steps down next month.
"When Israel frees prisoners to weak elements without demanding anything in return, they remain weak," he said.
"This is a decision conveying weakness and an acceptance of the existing situation."
Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu called for the policy to be scrapped.
"Instead of adopting a resolute stance against terrorism, the Kadima-Labor government continues to release hundreds of prisoners in return for nothing," said the former prime minister.
The move follows the recent release of the Lebanese militant, Samir Qantar, who was convicted of killing three Israelis, including a child.
Officials said the actual release would take place around 25 August, before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Israel is said to be holding between 8,500 and 11,000 Palestinian prisoners, including several hundred children.
Israel freed 429 Palestinians as a goodwill gesture to Mr Abbas after the resumption of US-sponsored peace talks in November in the US city of Annapolis.
(BBC)
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