Palestinian prisoners freed in peace move

Will

Jerusalem – Israel freed 26 Palestinian prisoners yesterday as part of an American- backed peace process, but pledged to press ahead with plans to build more homes in Jewish settlements on occupied Arab land.

The prisoners were the third of four groups that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to free in stages over a planned ninemonth period of peace negotiations in preference to freezing the construction of settlements on occupied land that the Palestinians claim for their future state.

An official announcement is expected this week of plans for 1400 Jewish homes to be built in settlements, including 400 in East Jerusalem. They are part of a pattern of announcements that Netanyahu has adopted in an attempt to blunt Right- wing anger over the release of Palestinian prisoners convicted of terror offences.

The announcement drew criticism from all sides: from Palestinians, who say the continued construction shows Israel is not negotiating sincerely; from European diplomats and Right- wing members of the ruling coalition who had advised Netanyahu, for different reasons, not to link the two issues; and from the Americans, who warn that settlement construction is the biggest barrier to a peace deal.

Crowds gathered in Ramallah at the Palestinian Authority headquarters to welcome the returning prisoners, all of whom were jailed before the 1993 Oslo Accords, the treaty that set up the framework intended to steer the way to peace.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas greeted 18 of the prisoners with hugs and kisses, calling the occasion ‘‘ a joy for all of us’’.

‘‘ I promise you there will be no final agreement without the release of all prisoners,’’ he vowed.

Repeated attempts since Oslo to reach a final peace deal have failed.

‘‘ I promise you there be no final agreement without the release of all prisoners.’’ Mahmoud Abbas Palestinian President

On Friday, US Secretary of State John Kerry, who kickstarted the current round of negotiations in July, will return to the region armed with an American- authored ‘‘ proposed framework’’ for a peace deal.

The proposal is aimed at bridging yawning divides on the core issues of the status of Jerusalem, refugees, borders, settlements and security as well as serving as a guideline for a permanent peace settlement.

It marks a new phase of the negotiations, during which Kerry is expected to rachet up pressure on both sides to make concessions before an April deadline for negotiations to conclude.

Netanyahu’s government coalition, however, has shown little appetite for such concessions, as highlighted by Sunday’s decision by a ministerial committee to push forward legislation annexing Jewish settlements in the Jordan Valley of the West Bank, an area that has emerged as a key sticking point in negotiations. Israel has insisted it must keep a military presence in the valley, which borders Jordan, even if a Palestinian state is established.

Netanyahu is expected to freeze the legislation, but the committee decision to endorse it highlights the hardening mood on peace negotiations from the right of his coalition. Abbas called the proposed annexation ‘‘ a red line that should not be crossed’’ while chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said it ‘‘ finishes all that is called the peace process’’.