26 Palestinian Prisoners Released from Israeli Prison

　　Israel has released 26 Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal to resume peace talks.

 

　　The release forms part of a goodwill¹ gesture by the Israeli government, amid the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians.

 

　　The 26 men, arrested between 1985 and 2001 are among a total of 104 prisoners that Israel has agreed to free in four stages.

 

　　Palestinians regard the men as heroes in the struggle for statehood.

 

　　While disdain² for the prisoners is strong in Israel.

 

　　Baruch Marzel is an ultra-right wing activist³ opposed to the release.

 

　　"They released eight times terrorists and the only thing we got out of it is terror."

 

　　Just hours following the release, a second round of the U.S.-brokered peace talks are due to resume in Jerusalem.

 

　　Peace talks between the two sides only restarted two weeks ago, after a three-year halt.

 

　　Meanwhile, Israeli authorities have approved the building of more than 1,000 homes in settlements on land claimed by the Palestinians.

 

　　The move has angered the Palestinian side.

 

　　Three years ago talks broke down when Israel pressed ahead with settlement construction in the occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem, despite Palestinian opposition⁴.