Report: Deal Nearing On Israel-Palestinian Prisoner Swap
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Israel and the Palestinians are coming closer, via Egyptian mediators, to an agreement that would see hundreds of jailed terrorists freed in exchange for the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Corporal Gilad Shalit, reported Israel's largest daily newspaper, Yediot Ahronot. According to the report, Israel is prepared to release up to 800 Palestinian security prisoners in three stages as part of the deal. The only remaining obstacle is said to be the timetable of the various releases. The purported deal, which is said to have been in the works already for weeks, runs contrary to statements by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who demanded Shalit be released unconditionally and insisted Israel would never succumb to terrorist blackmail. Shalit was abducted near the Gaza security fence on June 25 by Hamas-affiliated terrorists who tunneled under the border. Two members of his tank crew were killed in the assault. Meanwhile, Lebanese Culture Minister Tarek Mitri Saturday said his government would not be directly involved in mediating the release of two IDF reservists being held by Hezbollah. Hezbollah has demanded the release of up to 1,000 jailed Lebanese and Palestinian terrorists in return for Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, kidnapped on July 12 along Israel's northern border. The group is believed to be engaged in talks |
