Report: Israel agreed to abductors' demands
London-based al-Hayat reports that Israel said it would comply with terms set for release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Newspaper states Israel agreed to free prisoners, withdraw from Gaza in return for Shalit's release, commitment to end rocket attacks
According to the report, Israel has agreed to pull its forces out of Gaza, call off the closure imposed on the Strip, halt targeted killings, raids and arrest and release Palestinian ministers, parliament members and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, in exchange for Shalit's release and ending the Qassam attacks on Israel.
Al-Hayat reported that the offer that Shalit, who holds a dual French-Israeli citizenship, be transferred to France, has been withdrawn after France refused to receive the soldier in the frame of a deal. However, talks now concentrate on the possibility Shalit may be transferred to an Arab country, probably Egypt.
Meanwhile, Palestinian sources reported that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has decided to send member of the PLO Executive Committee, Taysir Khaled and head of the diplomatic committee at the National Palestinian Assembly, Abdullah Hurani to Damascus in order to hold talks with head of Hamas' politburo Khaled Mashaal, Hamas' leadership and Syrian officials, on Shalit's kidnapping.
According to reports, the Palestinians have formed a committee compiled of representatives from the presidential body, the Palestinian government, the Palestinian factions and the private sector, in a bid to formulate a unified stance regarding the issues currently on debate.
