Scent of freedom for 26 Palestinian ‘heroes’

Israel begun late Tuesday releasing 26 Palestinian prisoners, most held for deadly attacks, ahead of renewed Mideast negotiations.
The Israeli prison service said buses carrying the inmates left a jail in central Israel late Tuesday.
Celebrations are planned in the West Bank and Gaza where they are viewed as heroes. Their release is very painful for Israelis who view them as terrorists. Israel released them late at night to prevent a spectacle.
Israelis and Palestinians are to launch talks in Jerusalem on Wednesday, following a preparatory round two weeks ago in Washington. The prisoner release is part of an agreement to restart the talks after a five-year freeze.
Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, said Israel’s settlement plans are a slap in the face of the Palestinians and Kerry. “It is not just deliberate sabotage of the talks, but really a destruction of the outcome,” she said. Ashrawi urged Kerry “to stand up to Israel” and deliver a tough response.