In yet another confidence building measure, Israel released 500 Palestinian prisoners today. The move was agreed to at the summit in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt earlier this month between Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The prisoners were transported by bus back to the West Bank and Gaza Strip and were greeted by large crowds of cheering relatives and friends. The freed prisoners were not directly involved in attacks on Israelis. 400 additional prisoners are expected to be released within the next three months. In addition, a joint Israeli-Palestinian committee will meet to discuss further prisoner releases.

Israel's cabinet also gave final approval Sunday on its planned pullout from the Gaza Strip and announced a change in the proposed route of the security barrier designed to prevent future terrorist attacks.

According to the evacuation plan, civilians will have to leave the areas by July 20 of this year. Some radical settlers have refused to leave and Sharon announced they would be forcibly removed over a two month period.

There are still problems because of the security fence. Abbas has asked that construction on the security fence be stopped altogether. The fence would encompass approximately six percent of the West Bank on the Israeli side and Palestinians fear it would become a de facto border between Israel and a new Palestinian state. Approximately 15,000 Palestinians will now find their homes on the Israeli side of the wall.

Hanan Ashrawi, a Palestinian legislator told the Associated Press, 'Israel is creating facts on the ground in the West Bank. Sharon wants payback in the West Bank for the disengagement from Gaza, particularly Jerusalem.'

While problems remain, both sides in the conflict appear to be moving towards additional confidence building measures. There is more hope for peace in the Middle East today than there has been since Yasser Arafat launched the second intifadah in September of 2000.