Israel's cabinet on Sunday approved a request by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to release 250 jailed Palestinian terrorists in a holiday gesture to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
Olmert's office noted that it has become a routine gesture to free Palestinian security prisoners to mark the Muslim holy day of Eid al-Adha.
But not all of Olmert's ministers were happy about the decision.
In remarks carried by Ynet, Minister Jacob Edery said Israel "has made enough gestures to the Palestinians without having received anything in return."
Among the Palestinians to be released are dozens of senior Hamas officials arrested by Israel as bargaining chips for the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.