Israel releases five prisoners in swap

Israel's Prisons Service says five Palestinian prisoners have been released as part of Israel's prisoner swap last month with Hezbollah guerrillas.

Israel's Prisons Service says five Palestinian prisoners have been released as part of Israel's prisoner swap last month with Hezbollah guerrillas.

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A Prisons Service statement said the five left their prison in central Israel on Wednesday bound for the West Bank. They arrived midmorning in the town of Tulkarem. All five are teenagers serving short sentences for throwing stones and were due to be freed next year, according to information published on the Prisons Authority Web site.

The release follows the dramatic July swap between Israel and Hezbollah that brought back the bodies of two reserve soldiers to Israel in return for five Lebanese prisoners. As part of the deal, Israel agreed to release some Palestinian prisoners.