Egypt's Tantawi, Barak discuss Shalit deal

Defense minister's talk with Egypt's military leader suggests progress in prisoner swap deal that aims to free captive soldier

Attila Somfalvi|Published: 06.05.11 , 19:57

Defense Minister Ehud Barak held a phone conversation with Egypt's military leader Mohamed Tantawi Sunday about a possible deal to release Gilad Shalit, an occurrence that suggests that real progress has been made in negotiations to release the captive soldier.

The Defense Ministry issued a statement saying that Barak and the head of Egypt's Higher Military Council discussed the need for an immediate release of Shalit, who has been held captive by Hamas for 1,806 days. They also spoke about maintaining the calm along the shared borders and other regional security issues.

According to the statement, Barak and Tantawi agreed that maintaining the peace accord between Israel and Egypt is of great importance – a pillar of stability in the region.

Political elements told Ynet that the Shalit deal is at a sensitive stage, but has finally been brought back to the negotiating table after a long period of silence. They said that Egypt has "gotten back in the game" after the protests in Cairo, and so the prisoner swap is back on the region's daily agenda.

It was reported Saturday that Hamas Deputy Politburo Chief Moussa Abu Marzouk handed the Egyptian authorities the organization's final position on the Shalit deal. Abu Marzouk apparently submitted the final answer after speaking with the leader of the Hamas military wing, Ahmed Jabari.

Despite recent statements by Egypt's former ambassador to Israel and the Palestinian envoy to Moscow that the deal is on the verge of completion, a member of the Hamas politburo in Damascus, Izzat al-Rishq, denied that any progress has been made.

Shalit's parents, Noam and Aviva Shalit, met with French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe this past Thursday, but said that they "did not receive any news."

Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report