Israel to release Jordanian detainees

4/1/2005 3:00:00 PM GMT

Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that Israel agreed to free many Jordanian prisoners detained in Israeli jails next week.

Jordanian sources said that at least 20 prisoners are expected to be released by Israel.

Israel Foreign Ministry officials couldn’t confirm the news, but Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Rajab al-Sukayri said that Israel informed his government of imminent releases.

Al-Sukayri said that the detainees expected to be freed wouldn’t include four Jordanians whom Israel has accused of direct involvement in attacks against Israeli targets.

"But we hope they (the four) will be released in the near future," he said.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Hani al-Mulqi, who visited Israel last month, said that 25 detainees, including the four involved in attacks against Israelis, would be freed.

Al-Sukayri said the releases will pave the way for a visit to Jordan by Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom.

The prisoner releases was at the core of discussions between al-Mulqi and Israeli officials during his visit to Israel, the first by a Jordanian official in more than four years following the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising.

Al-Mulqi said that Jordan's king, Abdullah II, plans to make his first public visit to Israel in four years one confidence-building measures, especially the release of Jordanian detainees, take place.

Abdullah last visited Israel on a secret trip in March 2004 to meet Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, according to Israeli media.

Last month, Amman returned its ambassador to Israel, another sign of the improving ties between the two countries.

In 1994, Jordan became the second Arab state, after Egypt, to sign a peace treaty with Israel. Ties deteriorated after the Palestinian uprising broke out in 2000, and Jordan and Egypt withdrew their ambassadors from Israel.