Gilad Shalit
Photo: Noam Rotem
Cabinet meeting on Shalit postponed; talks continue
Shin Bet chief Diskin and Olmert's special emissary Dekel to remain in Cairo to continue prisoner exchange negotiations; Hamas source reports of progress in talks, says main dispute revolves around Israel's demand to expel top prisoners
The special cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday morning, during which the ministers were expected to discuss the negotiations on a possible prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, has been postponed by 24 hours.
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Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's special emissary Ofer Dekel, who arrived in Egypt on Saturday evening in a bid to reach an agreement that will see captive soldier Gilad shalit returned to Israel, are scheduled to remain in Cairo to continue talks with Hamas on the matter.
The Prime Minister's Office said there were no negative or positive developments in the talks, but according to Ynet analyst Ron Ben-Yishai, the postponement of the cabinet meeting and the emissaries' extended stay in Cairo indicate some progress.
Meanwhile, Hamas sources familiar with the negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal with Israel said Sunday night that a final agreement was still far off, though progress has been made over the past few days.
According to them, the main dispute revolves around Israel's demand that dozens of 'heavyweight' Palestinian prisoners be expelled following their release.
"There is progress, and it is true that Israel has agreed to the release of more prisoners on the list we submitted," one Hamas source said, referring to the list of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners Hamas is demanding in exchange for the release of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit).
"From our standpoint, Israel must agree to release all of the prisoners."
The source said the list included top prisoners such as former Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti and popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Secretary-General Ahmad Saadat, who was involved in the assassination of Tourism Minister Rehavam Ze'evi at a Jerusalem hotel in 2001.
He said the list of prisoners Hamas wants freed also included residents of east Jerusalem and Arab-Israelis serving time for security-related offenses.
Olmert has authorized Dekel and Diskin to display some flexibility regarding the list of prisoners Israel wants deported.
