Barak: Efforts to renew stalled Shalit talks underway
Following Cairo meeting with Mubarak, Egyptian intelligence chief, defense minister says despite current standstill in prisoner exchange talks, Israel will make every effort to bring captive soldier home
Defense Minister Ehud Barak said Sunday that "currently, there are no negotiations concerning (kidnapped IDF soldier) Gilad Shalit, but we have every intention of renewing the talks and doing everything we can to bring Gilad home."
Barak's statement followed his meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in Cairo.
The defense minister, who was accompanied by his advisor Amos Gilad and his military secretary Brig.-Gen. Eitan Dangut, also met with his Egyptian counterpart Defense Minister Hussein Tantawi and Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. The latter is in charge of mediating between Israel and Hamas in the prisoner exchange talks.
Palestinian sources have estimated that the chance for progress in the negotiations on a prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas has increased due to heavy Egyptian pressure.
Speaking to Ynet on Sunday, sources in Hamas and the Palestinian Authority said Israel has agreed to consider releasing 200 Palestinian prisoners which former Prime Minster Ehud Olmert's government refused to include in any deal that would secure the Shalit's release.
Gilad Shalit was captured by Palestinian terrorists during a cross-border on an IDF base near Gaza on June 25, 2006.
Ynet reported on Sunday that Mubarak was formulating a plan to settle the Shalit affair, rehabilitate Gaza and establish a long-term ceasefire between Israel and the armed Palestinian factions. Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer (Labor) said during the weekly cabinet meeting that Mubarak should be the one to lead and broker the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.
Addressing the civil unrest in Iran, Barak said after his meetings that "a historic process has begun there which will affect the Mideast arena for years to come."
The Defense Minister reiterated Israel's commitment to dismantle illegal outposts in the West Bank and refrain from expanding existing settlements.
Mubarak, for his part, spoke of Egypt's initiative to establish a long-term ceasefire between Israel and the armed Palestinian factions.
Barak said the meeting with Mubarak also focused on Iran's nuclear program, the possible consequences of the recent elections in Lebanon, the situation in Gaza and US President Barack Obama's Mideast peace initiative.
