Israel's cabinet has voted to release up to 100 Hamas and Islamic Jihad prisoners. Ministers voted by 14-9 to authorise the release of the militants, which is seen as a goodwill gesture toward the Palestinians ahead of Prime Minster Ariel Sharon's visit to Washington this week. US President George W Bush met Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas - also known as Abu Mazen - on Friday. Bush wants both sides to fulfil their commitments under the "road map" peace plan, which aims to bring an end to violence and establish a Palestinian state by 2005. At a cabinet meeting two weeks ago Sharon said releases would be confined to members of Palestinian movements who had not been involved in acts of violence.

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