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Israel Approves Building of 1,500 Homes in east Jerusalem After Prisoner Release

Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Interior Minister Gideon Saar approved the decision to add 1,500 homes to a mostly ultra-Orthodox neighborhood called Ramat Shlomo. The move comes the day after 26 Palestinian prisoners were released from Israeli jails.

Netanyahu said in remarks to Israeli media that the building was "compensation" for the release of the prisoners. The prisoner release is part of a deal between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, to resume peace talks between the two sides. Prior to this round of peace talks, there had been little dialogue in almost three years, with Abbas saying that construction in Israeli “settlements” had to stop as a precondition to the resumption of talks.

Israeli construction in post-1967 areas is only one issue that has plagued the peace process between the Israelis and Palestinians. It is estimated that some 330,000 live in the West Bank, along with 250,000 in east Jerusalem.

The release of the 26 prisoners brought jubilant crowds into the streets of Ramallah, where the prisoners traveled after being let out of jail. The deal had brought condemnation from Israelis, among them the survivors of victims of attacks. Most of the Palestinians released had been convicted of murder prior to the 1993 Oslo Accords and had served more than 20 years in jail.

Netanyahu also voiced support for the building of a visitors center in the City of David park, as well as the building of a national park on the slopes of Mount Scopus, which is located north of the Old City.