EREZ CROSSING, Gaza Strip - Israel completed the release of 86 Palestinian prisoners on Tuesday, a gesture meant to improve prospects for a U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference later this fall.
The prisoner release came a day before Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were to begin working out their joint vision of a peace deal at a meeting in Jerusalem. They hope to present a framework agreement to the international community at the November summit.
Israel sent 29 Palestinians back to the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, following the release of 57 prisoners in the West Bank a day earlier.
Israel hopes the release will help the moderate Abbas in his fierce rivalry with the Hamas militant group, which seized control of the Gaza Strip in June. Most of the prisoners who were freed are members of Abbas' Fatah movement. None belonged to Hamas.
At the Erez border crossing between Israel and northern Gaza, dozens of ecstatic Palestinians awaited the arrival of their newly released relatives. Many waved yellow Fatah flags and sang Fatah songs.
Their occasion was briefly marred when dozens of people rushed toward the freed prisoners as they came through the crossing. Israeli soldiers opened fire, wounding two people, including a photographer for the Reuters news agency, Palestinian medical officials said.
Abdel Hadi Hassanain, who was serving time for membership in Fatah's armed wing, smiled widely as a crowd gathered around him, slapping him on the back and hugging him, as his father tried to push through the throng. Hassanain grabbed his father, kissing him on both cheeks and then twice on the forehead as the elder man broke down with emotion.
"We're very happy to meet our parents, but the happiness will not be complete until all others have been released," Hassanain said.
Israel holds about 11,000 Palestinian prisoners. Because so many families have relatives in Israeli jails, securing their release is a high priority in Palestinian society. Israel said none of the prisoners released this week were convicted in deadly attacks on Israelis.
