"Real progress" has been made in the negotiations aimed at securing the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, the London-based Arabic-language al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper reported Wednesday, quoting Egyptian sources.
According to the sources, the progress made is not dramatic, but a change occurred due to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
strong desire to resolve the matter.
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| Report: Top Egyptian officials to visit Syria regarding Shalit deal / Roee Nahmias |
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Lebanon's al-Akhbar newspaper says Cairo means to increase pressure on Palestinian groups in order to finalize prisoner exchange deal meant to bring Hamas captive home |
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According to the report, Israel agreed at the time to release 325 prisoners out of the 450 demanded by Hamas, and had asked the Palestinian organization to change the remaining 125 controversial prisoners.
Hamas is said to have agreed, after Netanyahu took office, to have some of the prisoners deported upon their release. Palestinian sources reported that Hamas reached this stance after holding a poll among the prisoners on the matter.
The newspaper also reports that an extensive diplomatic activity has been taking place between Israel and Egypt
in recent weeks, following Netanyahu's visit
to Sharm el-Sheik before heading to the United States and President Shimon Peres' visit
to Egypt in July.
According to Israeli sources, the past months have seen a significant reinforcement of the ties between the two countries, including in terms of the security cooperation, after Egypt uncovered al-Qaeda
and Hezbollah
terror cells which were allegedly planning a series of terror attacks against Israeli targets in Sinai and against Egyptian targets, as well as assassinations
of Egyptian officials and Israel's Ambassador to Cairo Shalom Cohen.
Netanyahu telephoned
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Monday evening and thanked him for thwarting the plan to target the Israeli ambassador or Israeli Embassy in Cairo. According to reports, the two leaders discussed ways to advance the prisoner exchange deal, as well as developing the relations between the two countries.
Gilad Shalit was kidnapped
into the Gaza Strip 1,144 days ago.
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