Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has led a triumphant homecoming for the latest Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel as part of the US-sponsored Middle East peace effort.<br /><br />Some 26 inmates were released in this third batch – 18 returning to the West Bank and the rest rejoining their families in Gaza and East Jerusalem.<br /><br />After greeting ex-inmates at his headquarters in Ramallah, Abbas pledged more of the same. He said: “We will not sign a final peace deal with Israel before all the prisoners are released.”<br /><br />While Palestinians rejoiced for the men, many of whom were serving long terms for murder, their liberation prompted protests by relatives of Israeli victims. <br /><br />But the prisoners’ own families are euphoric.<br /><br />“I’m so happy today,” said Jamila Salman at Bet Lahiya in the Gaza Strip. “I did not see my husband for 22 years. This is the best day of my life, a great joy.”<br /><br />Convicted of killing an Israeli soldier, Mahmoud Salman spared a thought for those still imprisoned by Israel.<br /><br />“I can’t describe how I feel,” he said. “I feel great but it is still hard because we left prisoners behind, especially the sick and others serving life sentences.”<br /><br />Israel’s plans to build 1,400 new homes for settlers in the West Bank are more problematic for peace. <br /><br />Palestinians say such settlement building could jeopardise talks, giving US Secretary of State John Kerry plenty to think about as he visits the region this week.<br /><br />I
