JERUSALEM — Israel approved building nearly 1,200 more settlement homes yesterday and agreed to release 26 long-held Palestinian prisoners — highlighting an apparent settlements-for-prisoners trade-off that got both sides back to peace talks after a five-year freeze.
Yet concerns were mounting, especially among Palestinians, that the price is too steep. Yesterday’s announcement was Israel’s third in a week promoting Jewish settlements on war-won lands the Palestinians want for a state, fueling Palestinian fears of a new Israeli construction spurt under the cover of US-sponsored negotiations.
In Israel, the most vocal protests came from relatives of those killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians slated for release. Bereaved relatives held up large photos of their loved ones during a Supreme Court hearing on an appeal against the upcoming release.
Israelis and Palestinians are to launch talks Wednesday in Jerusalem, following a preparatory round two weeks ago in Washington. The United States envisions a deal within nine months on the terms of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, including drawing a border and security agreements.