Ofer Dekel, staying put
Photo: Shaul Golan
Shalit, gone for 1,008 days
Photo: Noam Rotem
State official: Shalit talks with Hamas frozen
Top Israeli sources reiterate negotiations towards prisoner exchange deal aimed at securing release of captive soldier deadlocked. 'Until Hamas submits new list of prisoners it demands there will be no negotiations,' official says, adding that negotiator Ofer Dekel was not sent to Cairo
"Until Hamas submits a new list of 125 terrorist as we have requested – there will be no negotiations," an official source from the Prime Minister's Office said Saturday night.
"Ofer Dekel did not travel to Cairo, and for the moment, there are no talks," the source stressed, following various conflicting reports on the matter.
Stuck
Palestinian sources say organization holding captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit continues to refuse to bend on list of prisoners it demands in exchange for soldier's release. Sources say Israel offered having certain prisoners deported instead of released, but Hamas rejected offer
Israeli officials said Dekel, the top negotiator in talks for a deal aimed at securing the release of captive soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, did not leave for Cairo, and that they had no information of his whereabouts.
"All these publications could be creating unnecessary noise. All we can say right now is that Hamas has not submitted the requested list, after Israel already confirmed 325 terrorists and another 125 are missing. As a result, there are no talks with Hamas," the PM's Office source clarified.
On Thursday, Israeli officials okayed a number of moves taken in recent days. Last week, Hamas inmates held in Israel were allowed to convene to discuss the list of prisoners the organizations demanded be released.
In addition, talks were held with Egyptian negotiator Mohammed Ibrahim, who was appointed by Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman.
Last week, official diplomatic sources called Hamas reports of a breakthrough in the prisoner exchange deal a "Palestinian spin" and insisted that no progress had been made.
"There is nothing new since last Thursday's report," the source stressed on Saturday. "Any other report may be misleading. As of yet, there are no negotiations with Hamas, who have not given us the list of 125 terrorists."
Meanwhile, the Islamic Jihad-affiliated website Falastin al-Youm on Saturday reported that a "countdown" for the signing of a deal had begun.
The unusual report was not confirmed by any official sources. The website reported that marathon negotiations, the likes of which have never before taken place between Israel and Hamas, through Egyptian mediators, were about to take place.
Gilad Shalit was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip 1,008 days ago
Roee Nahmias contributed to this report
