Palestinians reunited as Israel frees 500 prisoners

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.

With the historic cabinet vote, Israel began charting its final borders, bypassing negotiations and angering the Palestinians.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said the decision to leave Gaza and four settlements in the northern West Bank was the hardest he had made but would ensure a better future for Israel.