[JURIST] Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon [official profile] announced Sunday that he will postpone the release of 400 Palestinian prisoners, alleging that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is not upholding his promise to pressure Palestinian militants into a ceasefire. Abbas responded that Sharon was acting in bad faith and was harming the agreements made at February 8 summit [JURIST report]. Sharon released 500 prisoners [JURIST report] after the meeting. Since then a suicide bomber has killed five Israelis, and the Gaza Strip has remained under rocket and mortar fire, although the incidence of violence has decreased sharply since the ceasefire. Abbas fears that violence may again escalate if more prisoners are not released. Some 8000 Palestinians [Palestinian Prisoners Society advocacy website] are held is Israeli jails. Reuters has more.