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Special envoy Ofer Dekel
Photo: Oren Agmon

Report: Israel picks Hamas prisoners for Shalit deal

London-based al-Hayat newspaper says Israeli envoy presents Egyptian mediators with list of Hamas prisoners Israel willing to release in return for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit

A special Israeli envoy presented Egyptian mediators with a list of Hamas security prisoners Israel would be willing to free in return for the release of kidnapped Corporal Gilad Shalit, the London-based al-Hayat newspaper reported Monday.

 

During a visit to Cairo last week, Ofer Dekel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's top negotiator for the release of three kidnapped Israeli soldiers, pressed Egypt to resume mediations between Hamas and Israel to secure Shalit's release, a Palestinian official told the newspaper.

 

Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas-led gunmen in a cross-border attack near the Gaza Strip last June.

 

Dekel suggested the return to the Gaza Strip of the Egyptian security delegation which oversaw the negotiations between the Islamic group and the Jewish State

 

Egypt withdrew the delegation last month in the wake of Hamas's violent takeover of Gaza.

 

The official added that Hamas rejected the list over Israel's failure to include in it members of the Popular Resistance Committees, an armed group that took part in the kidnapping.

 

"Hamas rejected it to avoid arguments with the Popular Resistance Committees who also took part in kidnapping Shalit," the official said.

 

Dekel also suggested that Egypt hosts negotiations between Israel and Hamas to seal a prisoner exchange deal.

 

The former Shin Bet chief is also leading negotiations for the release of two Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hizbullah last July.

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.09.07, 10:54
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