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Israelis free 398 Arabs to boost Abbas

TULKAREM, West Bank - Israel freed 398 jailed militants Thursday, fulfilling a months-old pledge that officials hope will bolster Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his moderate allies as they contest with radical groups for support among Palestinians.

The release, which came just hours after an agreement for the Israeli and Palestinian leaders to meet this month, could help ease the way for the two sides to coordinate Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

Pledges to work together on the pullout, which Israel originally planned as a unilateral move, have so far gone nowhere. The withdrawal is scheduled to begin in mid August.

Abbas, 70, left a Jordanian hospital Thursday, a day after having his coronary arteries checked for clogs. Palestinian officials said Abbas will be able to proceed with the June 21 meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - their first since a February summit at which they declared a truce.

"Things are just fine and I'm in very good health," a smiling Abbas told reporters at the hospital.

Abbas has made the release of Palestinian prisoners one of his top priorities. With about 7,500 Palestinians still in Israeli prisons, many Palestinians have friends or relatives behind bars, and their fate is a deeply emotional issue. Cheering crowds welcomed the freed militants Thursday.

For the first time Thursday, Israel released nearly 90 prisoners who had served just a fraction of their sentences. Some of those freed had been charged with attempted shootings and preparing explosives, but most were jailed for nonviolent offenses, and Israeli officials said none had "blood on their hands."

Israel said the release was part of an effort to strengthen Abbas, whose Fatah party is facing a strong challenge from Hamas, a militant Islamic group responsible for dozens of suicide bombings against Israelis.

Israeli officials have expressed concern about growing support for Hamas. Though they have complaints about Abbas' reluctance to crack down on militants, they prefer to work with Fatah than with Hamas.

[Last modified June 3, 2005, 01:17:39]