The Saudi Arabian al-Watan newspaper reported that a Finnish expert in hostage negotiations is making covert efforts to mediate between Israel and Hamas' politburo chief Khaled Mashaal, in an effort to solve the crisis surrounding the kidnapping of Cpl. Gilad Shalit.
According to the report, the Israeli government asked for the expert's involvement and he recently met with Mashaal in Damascus. (Roee Nahmias)













