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Israel Released over 1,200 Palestinian Prisoners in Last Four Years
(Ha'aretz) Since July 2007, 1,233 Palestinian prisoners have been released from Israel Prison Service facilities for various political reasons. In July 2007, Ehud Olmert freed 255 prisoners as a gesture to Mahmoud Abbas. In October the same year, 87 prisoners were freed as a Ramadan gesture. That November, a further 441 prisoners were freed before the Annapolis talks. In August 2008, 198 prisoners were released as part of an effort to strengthen Abbas. In December 2008, Israel released 227 prisoners as a gesture before Eid al-Adha. In October 2009, 20 female prisoners were freed in exchange for a video of Gilad Shalit speaking.