1.   Arafat has reserved them for Palestinian factions who so far have refused to take part in the autonomy government because oppose peace with Israel.

2.   His autonomy government is broke.

3.   PLO negotiator Nabil Shaath said the Palestinian autonomy government had agreed to accept the prisoners, most of whom were jailed simply for entering Israel illegally.

4.   Palestinians want to have most of the West Bank under their autonomy government before the final talks resume, believing this will assure creation of a Palestinian state.

5.   Palestinian negotiator Hassan Asfour accused the Netanyahu government on Monday of trying to divide Hebron and sabotage the Palestinian autonomy government.

6.   Abington, the U.S. consul general to Jerusalem, is de facto ambassador to the Palestinian autonomy government.

7.   Armed opposition to the PLO autonomy government will not be tolerated, but no one will be arrested for political reasons, Rajoub said.

8.   Arafat advisor Ahmed Tibi said the Palestinian leader was willing to give Hamas a role in his autonomy government.

9.   Edward G. Abington is the de facto U.S. ambassador to the Palestinian autonomy government.

10.   For Arafat, Friday also marked the start of his first stay in the West Bank since taking the reins of the autonomy government last July.