Israel Releases 26 Palestinian Prisoners: Palestinian Official
Israel released 26 Palestinian prisoners Tuesday, a Palestinian official said, in accordance with commitments made to revive US-brokered peace talks.
Via AFP:
Israel on Tuesday freed 26 Palestinian prisoners under peace talks brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry, who returns to the region this week to boost the faltering negotiations.
The prisoners were the third batch of 104 detainees that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to let go in four stages when the peace talks were revived in July.
The release shortly after 0000 GMT came after an Israeli court rejected a last-minute appeal by victims' families.
Washington hailed the release as a "positive step forward in the overall process" as Kerry prepared to return to t...