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Monday, December 27, 1999

Israel releases 5 guerrillas, plans to free Palestinians

By Laurie Copans
Associated Press
 

   JERUSALEM - Israel released five Lebanese Shiite Muslim guerrillas on Sunday in an apparent goodwill gesture ahead of a new round of peace talks with Syria.
   Also Sunday, an official in the prime minister's office said Israel will release 24 more Palestinian prisoners as part of an accord reached with the Palestinians in September. The official declined to be named. Another official close to the impending release said that for the first time in the six-year peace process, the release will include Palestinians who killed Israelis.
   The two releases come as Israel is moving ahead with peace talks on two fronts, trying to negotiate a final agreement with the Palestinians, while also resuming discussions with Syria, the power-broker in Lebanon, after a four-year hiatus.
   The Lebanese released were Hezbollah guerrillas. The Hezbollah, or Party of God, is leading a guerrilla war to oust 1,500 Israeli soldiers and allied militiamen from an occupied zone in southern Lebanon, near Israeli territory.
   Israel resumed peace talks with Syria last week, and Lebanon and Israel have said they will resume talks soon after a 4-year hiatus. Barak has asked Syria to contain Hezbollah as part of the renewed talks. Freeing Hezbollah guerrillas could help calm the guerrilla movement.
  
  

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