The US has welcomed a series of measures to improve the prospects of Middle East peace talks due to take place in the US state of Maryland next week.
As the international envoy for the Middle East, Tony Blair, announced new investment to help the Palestinian economy, a State Department spokesman in Washington praised fresh confidence-building measures by the Israeli government.
Israel has confirmed that over 440 Palestinian prisoners are to be released and that no new settlements will be built in the West Bank.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged delegates to the talks in Annapolis to go with realistic goals.
