Palestinians freed to defuse land-grab row

Cairo - Israel began freeing 250 Palestinian prisoners yesterday and announced steps to ease life for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. But Palestinians said the gestures would notstop their campaign against land confiscation in Arab east Jerusalem.

Shimon Peres, the Israeli Foreign Minister, announced the measures after talks in Cairo dominated by Israel's plan to seize 131 acres of land in east Jerusalem. Military authorities said they hoped the release of prisoners would advance peace talks. Reuter