Previous release of Palestinian prisoners (Archives)
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Israel talking to 'heavyweight' Palestinian prisoners, attorneys say
Lawyers, family members of prisoners with 'blood on their hands' say they are being interviewed by Israeli security officials in framework of prisoner exchange negotiations
Israeli security officials have been interviewing 'heavyweight' Palestinian prisoners in what the Palestinian Authority considers a sign of headway in the negotiations on a possible prisoner swap that would see captive soldier Gilad Shalit released, the prisoners' attorneys and family members told Ynet on Sunday.
The prisoners who are being interviewed were all sentenced to multiple life sentences and are considered to have "blood on their hands". The most infamous prisoner being interviewed is Nasser Awais, the former commander of Fatah's armed wing, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades. Awais was captured by IDF forces during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002. He was sentenced to 11 life terms.
It is estimated that Israel may offer to release these prisoners if Hamas agrees to remove other 'heavyweight' Palestinian prisoners from the list it had submitted during the negotiations.
The Israel Prison Service denied that any talks were being held with Palestinian prisoners, and the Shin Bet refused to comment.
It was further reported that about two weeks ago Israel approved 226 of the 450 names on Hamas' list of 'heavyweight' prisoners it wants released in exchange for Shalit.
Also on Sunday, Egyptian sources reported that Israel's representative in the prisoner exchange negotiations, Ofer Dekel, arrived in Cairo for a lightning visit.
