Jan 10 (AFP - NT) - Israel freed a first batch of about 150 Palestinian prisoners in Hebron Wednesday at the start of an operation which will see 1,200 inmates released over the next 48 hours. The prisoners are being released under the terms of a September 1995 agreement between Israel and Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority. About 1,000 prisoners were let go shortly after the agreement was signed and 1,200 more are to be freed ahead of Palestinian self-rule electionon January 20. Those to be released this week include Islamic militants and inmates accused of murder, Palestinian officials said. However, the release of the founder of the Islamic Resistance Movement (HAMAS), Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, as well as five women Israel has so far refused to free, Atrash said. AFP /AA1234/100819 GMT JAN 96

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