ISRAEL freed 500 Palestinian prisoners in a goodwill gesture yesterday, a day after the government gave final approval to a pullout from Gaza and a revised route of the West Bank separation barrier that would encompass at least 6% of land claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.

Israel freed 500 Palestinian prisoners in a goodwill gesture today.

ARAB leaders yesterday endorsed US President George Bush’s road map to peace in the Middle East and called on Israel to live up to its side of the deal.