Palestine

First Batch of Palestinian Prisoners Freed Ahead So-called Peace Talks

First Batch of Palestinian Prisoners Freed Ahead So-called Peace Talks

Twenty-six Palestinian prisoners were released by “Israeli” authorities early Wednesday ahead of so-called “peace talks” later in the day amid construction of new settlements in al-Quds (Jerusalem).

A group of 15 crossed into the Gaza Strip at about 1:40am and got out of a bus next to the border, AFP reported.

Another 11 prisoners arrived at the West Bank city of Ramallah, received by the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and thousands of supporters.

“We shall continue until we free all the prisoners from “Israeli” jails,” Abbas said.

The move was part of an agreement brokered by US Secretary of State John Kerry in order to resume so-called peace talks between the “Israeli” occupier and Palestine.

For his part, Kerry had said he had frank and open talks about the illegal construction of settlement units with “Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Israel’s” municipality has approved 942 new settlement units for occupied east al-Quds on the eve of the scheduled resumption of so-called peace talks with the Palestinians, a local official said Tuesday.

The new construction plans are in addition to the 1,200 settlement units approved by the Zionist entity on Sunday, raging anger among Palestinians.

“The Jerusalem municipality has approved a construction plan for 942 homes in Gilo,” an existing settlement in occupied east al-Quds, deputy mayor Yosef Pepe Alalu told AFP.

“This is a terrible decision which is a provocation against the Palestinians, the Americans and the whole world who oppose continued settlement building,” the leftwing municipal councilor said.

“The deliberate and willful sabotage of these talks, and of any prospects of a genuine peace, is embodied in “Israel’s” escalated and persistent policy of settlement activity and settlement expansion,” said Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official.

Neither “Israelis” nor Palestinians showed much enthusiasm for the so-called peace talks that are set to resume on Wednesday for the first time in three years.
“There will never be peace here – trust me,” Hani Keri, a Palestinian who lives in al-Quds told The Media Line.

“In 1948, my father said, ‘tomorrow will be OK’ and we’re still waiting. Nobody wants to make peace. “Israel” takes money from the Americans in the name of security. If there was peace, they wouldn’t have any reason to do that,” he added.

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