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Shalit's father at protest tent last week
Photo: Gil Yohanan

Hamas objects to exile instead of release

Palestinian sources say organization holding captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit continues to refuse to bend on list of prisoners it demands in exchange for soldier's release. Sources say Israel offered having certain prisoners deported instead of released, but Hamas rejected offer

Exactly one week ago marked 1,000 days since the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who has been held in Gaza ever since, and on Thursday, Palestinian sources expressed optimism that a breakthrough towards his release may be near.

 

On Friday however, it seemed both parties had reached a dead end. Palestinian sources and sources close to the negotiations told Ynet that Hamas objected to having the prisoners Israel refused to release in exchange for Shalit exiled instead.

 

Hamas has not budged from its initial list of 450 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons it demanded in exchange for Shalit. Meanwhile, Israel has adhered to Egypt's latest requests to have some of the names on the list deported rather than released.

 

Hamas, however, found this proposal to be unacceptable, and the organization refused to hand over to Egypt an updated list of demands to be transferred to Israel.

 

Sources said Hamas was insisting on delaying any progress in the deal, and said that Israel has made it clear that it is willing to hear out any new proposals, but Hamas has continued to insist on its original list.

 

Negotiations will continue over the coming days, but there is no guarantee that any deal will be reached during outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's tenure, since Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to present his new government next week.

 

Secret talks resumed

Secret talks between both parties resumed in the past week, and three steps were taken, with Israel's permission, as part of the talks.

 

Firstly, Hamas officials, including parliament members and terrorists jailed in Israeli prisons were allowed to meet to consolidate a list to complete the list of prisoners Israel approved for release to from 325 to 450.

 

According to Palestinian sources, an alternative list of the same number of prisoners would apply pressure on the Hamas leadership in Damascus and Gaza to push forward with completing the list.

 

The second step taken during last week's talks was the arrival of an Egyptian official closely linked to Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman in Israel.

 

Thirdly, indirect talks were held via different sources. Both special envoys Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin and Ofer Dekel, are still in Israel and have not received any instructions to return to Cairo to continue talks.

 

Meanwhile, bereaved parents who object to the release of terrorists in a deal for Shalit, sent a letter to the prime minister in which they argued that Israel has begun working and continuing talks in secret.

 

"These days, it seems there is no law and order in Israel, no leader and no government. Things are being done that, in any normal country would cause great shock. The deal is being sewn in darkness, 'The hands are Olmert's hands, and the silence is Netanyahu's silence'," the parents' letter read.

 

Gilad Shalit was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip 1,006

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.27.09, 15:15
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