Israel Frees 101 Palestinians in Goodwill Move
Israel released 101 Palestinian prisoners Friday as a goodwill gesture ahead of the resumption of talks with the PLO.
A government official said the delay in implementing Palestinian self-rule in the occupied Gaza Strip and the West Bank city of Jericho was eroding support for the peace accord with the Palestine Liberation Organization.
A spokesman said Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin had approved a campaign to bolster public support at home for the deal.
Crowds at the Nahal Oz checkpoint sang nationalist songs as the freed prisoners--all due to be released at the end of the month in any event--entered Gaza.
Since the peace deal was signed in September, the PLO has demanded Israel release all of the 12,000 Palestinian prisoners it holds. Israel has already released about 600 prisoners.
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