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Occupied Jerusalem: A confidant of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will be released from Israeli prison this week, a Palestinian newspaper reported on Tuesday.
Abdel Rahim Malouh will be included in Israel's list of 250 Palestinian prisoners to be pardoned this Friday, the Al Ayyam newspaper reported on Tuesday.
The newspaper said that Abbas had told Malouh's wife about the release through a telephone call.
Malouh, as a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee, is considered very close to Abbas and could serve as a mediator between him and Hamas.
Abbas has refused to talk to Hamas since its forces took over the Gaza Strip in mid-June.
Israel jailed Malouh for involvement in attacks on Jewish settlers. Malouh is at least 60 years old and reportedly sick.
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