Israel released 159 Palestinian prisoners Monday as a gesture to the new Palestinian leadership.

Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the front-runner in Jan. 9 presidential elections, welcomed the release but said Israel must free those sentenced to lengthy terms. Israel is holding some 7,000 Palestinians on security-related charges, and Abbas is under intense pressure to win their freedom.

The prisoners released Tuesday had no more than two years left in their sentences, and none were imprisoned for attacking Israelis. Dozens had been held for staying in Israel without entry permits.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said he would seek final Cabinet approval to his Gaza Strip withdrawal plan by February, months ahead of schedule, officials said.

Lawmakers also quoted Sharon as saying Israel will use harsh force if Palestinian militants try to disrupt the pullout.

In the West Bank, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian fugitive, while a Hamas member died in Gaza in an accidental explosion.

Dozens of prisoners arrived Monday morning at drop-off points in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, some waving Palestinian flags and flashing victory signs.

The release was part of a deal with Egypt. On Dec. 5, Egypt freed Israeli Azzam Azzam after jailing him for eight years on spy charges. In exchange, Israel returned six Egyptian students accused of planning attacks on Israel and agreed to release Palestinian prisoners.

Israel has said Monday's release also was meant as a gesture to the new Palestinian leadership, but it refuses to free Palestinians involved in attacks on Israelis.

In a weekend campaign speech, Abbas demanded that Israel release all Palestinian prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti, a promising uprising leader.

"In principle we work for every prisoner to be released, but what we are looking for is the release of those who have spent many long years in jail," Abbas said shortly after the prisoners were freed.

Source: Agencies