Israel to release Palestinian prisoners News
Israel to release Palestinian prisoners

[JURIST] The Israeli Cabinet Sunday agreed to release nearly 200 Palestinian prisoners currently being held in Israeli prisons. The release was part of an agreement between Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon. Israeli government spokesman Rannan Gissin referred to the release as "a gesture of goodwill [that] shows also our intention to change the general atmosphere and to move forward with the peace process". Gissin indicated that more prisoners might be freed in the future. The agreement resulted in the release last week of six Egyptian students in exchange for the return of Azzam Azzam. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Laws of Burgos put into effect

The Spanish Crown put the Laws of Burgos into effect on December 27, 1512. These laws governed the relationship of Spanish settlers with the indigenous peoples of the Caribbean. The laws established the encomienda system of labor, promoted conversion to Catholicism, and safeguarded the indigenous peoples from physical abuse.  However, historians argue that the laws were ineffective at protecting the rights of the indigenous population. Learn more from the Library of Congress.

Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public bar smashing

On December 27, 1900, militant Prohibitionist Carrie Nation carried out her first public smashing of a bar, at the Carey Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Nation argued that destroying bars was an acceptable means of battling the liquor trade since the Kansas Constitution prohibited alcohol. Learn more about Carrie Nation.

World Bank created

On December 27, 1944, the World Bank was created during the United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA. Learn more about the history of the World Bank.