Israel today began releasing 429 Palestinian prisoners.

US President George Bush told the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian territories he is personally committed to their mission of peace, urging them to stick with it and not lose sight of their goal.

FOLLOWING the revival of a Middle East peace process between Israel and the Palestinians at Annapolis on Tuesday, France said it will host a donor conference in Paris on December 17.

Syria will send its deputy foreign minister to the US-sponsored Mideast peace conference this week after the issue of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights was added to the agenda, the state-run news agency said today.

The Palestinians are ready to yield parts of the West Bank to Israel if compensated with an equal amount of Israeli territory, according to the lead Palestinian negotiator.