Shalits meet with gov't officials
Noam, Aviva and Yoel Shalit, family of captive Israeli soldier, meet with PM's special negotiator Hagai Hadas amidst reports in Arab world of impending prisoner exchange deal. Father Noam refuses to comment, says, 'Now is not the time to talk'
Noam and Aviva Shalit, along with their son Yoel, met Monday morning with Hagai Hadas, the main negotiator for their captured soldier son, Gilad. The meeting, which was held at Tel Aviv's Kirya military base, lasted two hours.
Reporters wishing to speak with the family prior to the meeting were told by Noam Shalit that "now is not the time to talk."
After the meeting concluded, Noam Shalit told reporters: "We cannot speak at the moment, and I have nothing to add. We will share our joy if there is one to share, but I am not at ease. I've participated in far more interesting meetings in my life," Shalit said in response to questions about the meeting's content.
After the meeting in Tel Aviv, Noam Shalit is slated to travel to Jerusalem for another round of talks with several cabinet ministers. The family and activists of the headquarters of the release of the captive soldier plan to boost pressure, in light of the possibility that a prisoner exchange deal may soon be brought before the ministers for approval.
In recent days reports have been circulating in Arab media about an impending deal. On Sunday, al-Arabiya network reported that the deal will be executed within days, possibly even this Friday – the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha.
According to the report, a meeting is scheduled to take place in Cairo on Monday between Hamas leadership coming in from Damascus and the organization's heads in the Gaza Strip. During the meeting, Israel's latest proposal will be discussed.
Palestinian sources in the Gaza Strip said on Monday that a Hamas delegation headed by official Mahmoud al-Zahar left for Cairo for the talks.
Earlier, a Fox News report claimed that according to a source in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, "The deal has not been completed yet."
Hamas attempted to downplay the reports as well. According to Osama Hamdan, who is in charge of the organization's foreign affairs, the recent progress made in the talks is not enough for the deal to be implemented.
The families of the "heavy" prisoners are preparing for the return of their loved ones. The West Bank prisoners who have contacted their relatives include senior members of Fatah's military wing, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, including some who have been sentenced to several life terms for carrying out and planning deadly attacks.
In general, the prisoners' families are trying to lower expectations as well. One of the relatives noted that the families had already experienced such times in the past, when the deal appeared to be very close but was eventually not implemented.
Gilad Shalit was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip 1,247 days ago
Naama Lanir and Ali Waked contributed to this report
