JERUSALEM, Jan. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said on Sunday that Israel was considering releasing more Palestinian prisoners ahead of the Israeli-Paletinian summit, Army Radio reported.

    The defense minister told the routine cabinet meeting that only prisoners with "no blood on their hands" would be freed.

    However, Israel has not made decision on how many of about 8,000 Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli jails would be released or when the release would take place, the report said.

    The move will be regarded as a good-will gesture for the summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, which is expected to be held on Feb. 8.

    Mofaz also said that there has been a 75 percent decrease in thenumber of attacks on Israeli targets in the past few days.

    The lull in violence was a precondition for Israel to revive stalled peace talks with the Palestinians.

    Abbas, who was elected on Jan. 9, has tried to end attacks on Israelis by deploying Palestinian security forces across the Gaza Strip and persuading militant groups to accept a conditioned ceasefire with Israel.

    Israel responded by reducing its military operations in the Palestinian territories and agreeing to hand over security control over 4 Palestinian cities in the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday. Enditem