Israel releases 159 Palestinian prisoners News
Israel releases 159 Palestinian prisoners

[JURIST] In a gesture of goodwill to the new Palestinian leadership, Israel Monday released 159 Palestinian prisoners. Interim Palestinian leader and presidential frontrunner Mahmoud Abbas (official website here; BBC profile here) has campaigned on the prisoner release issue and has called for more of the 7,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails to be set free, especially those serving longer sentences. Israel refuses to release any prisoner involved in attacks on Israelis. Some of the newly free Palestinians call the release a "public relations gimmick" since their terms were to end shortly. Washington Post has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.