'Palestinian prisoners are Olmert's problem'
Senior Palestinian source involved in talks for release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit confirms significant progress has been made, but stresses that kidnappers will not compromise on release of senior prisoners with blood on their hands
According to the source, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will arrive in Gaza over the weekend in order to deal with the Shalit issue as part of his meetings in the city.
The senior source added, however, that the key was now in Israel's hands.
"If Israel insists on the name of one or more of the prisoners the kidnappers want to see released, the entire deal could collapse, as has happened in the past," he said.
According to the source, before the parties reach a final agreement it can be determined "beyond any doubt that prisoners defined by Israel as prisoners with blood on their hands will be released, as well as Israeli Arab prisoners."
He added that he was aware of the fact that these two groups of prisoners were considered a red line by Israel.
"It is no longer a matter for the kidnapping groups or the Egyptian mediators. This is Olmert's problem and he must find the way to convey this to the Israeli public opinion. This is the last thing bothering us," the source said.
Without the release of the senior Palestinians prisoners jailed in Israel for dozens of life sentences for the murder of Israelis, and the inclusion of Israeli Arab prisoners, there would be no deal, the source explained.
"The organizations' goal this time is to break the criteria dictated by the Israelis in previous deals. We want to create a precedence," he said.
He noted that he could not name a specific date for the end of the affair.
"It could be days and it could take much longer. But what is certain is that we are definitely in the last round of talks, and if they succeed, a deal could be finalized in a very short period of time. The Israelis are the ones holding the key, and if they cooperate with the demands, this deal could come into force by the end of the month. Otherwise, it could last for an indefinite period of time," he said.
In recent days, due to the large number of statements and declarations by Palestinian organizations regarding the Shalit affair, the Egyptian delegation demanded that they stop making statements in the media. The Egyptians wanted that such declarations were damaging the talks and could even thwart them.
"The meaning of the joint decision to put an end to the declarations is that there is real progress," the source said.
Israel: No date set for Shalit's release
Senior diplomatic sources in Jerusalem told Ynet on Thursday evening that there was no truth to the reports on a significant breakthrough in the Shalit affair. The talks are ongoing, the sources said, but in the meantime there is no date for Shalit's release.
They added that Abbas did promise Prime Minister Ehud Olmert during their last meeting in Jerusalem that Shalit would be released before the establishment of the Palestinian unity government, but that did not happen.
Earlier Thursday, Abbas said that he was exerting efforts to formulate an exchange agreement that would include Shalit's release.
He made the remarks in a meeting with four Arab MKs from the United Arab List-Ta'al: Ibrahim Sarsur, Ahmad Tibi, Talab el-Sana and MK Abas Zkoor, who came to Ramallah to congratulate Abbas on the unity government and express their full support.
MK el-Sana told Ynet, "Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) said that he had wanted Shalit to be released before the unity government was established. He is sorry it didn't happen but he hasn't thrown in the towel.
"He is now working on it on all fronts and he does not regard it as an obligation, but as a major ethical issue that could generate trust between the two people. He said he is optimistic but there are obstacles," added el-Sana.
