Report: Israel to free Marwan Barghouti as part of Shalit deal

[oberliner]

Israel has agreed to free jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti as part of a deal to secure the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, the pan-Arab newspaper Al-Hayat reported Sunday.

According to the daily, Barghouti will be among the 1,000 Palestinian prisoners Israel will free in the exchange. But the London-based paper also said that Israel has refused to release Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader Ahmed Sa'adat.

Israel has also agreed to release 350 of the 372 prisoners on a list presented by Hamas, Al-Hayat reported.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1062350.html

[bemildred]

1. Hmmmm.

Can they make it happen before the election though?

[bemildred]

2. Hamas political bureau member: No progress in prisoner exchange talks

Mohamed Nazzal, a member of Hamas' political bureau in Damascus, said that "there has been no progress or breakthrough in regards to a prisoner exchange deal with Israel."

Nazzal spoke in an interview to the al-Jazeera network. (Roee Nahmias)

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3668501,00.html

[bemildred]

3. Olmert blasts 'damaging' reports on Shalit, in veiled attack on Barak

Outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Sunday issued a veiled attack on Defense Minister Ehud Barak for sparking "exaggerated and damaging" reports on a deal for abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.

"There is ongoing treatment of the Gilad Shalit issue, which is coordinated by me personally. The recent publications are exaggerated and damaging and are absolutely unnecessary," said Olmert at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting.

Barak has recently given a number of interviews on the matter. On Friday night, he told Channel 1 that Israel was making "supreme efforts" to bring the soldier home.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1062464.html

[bemildred]

4. Ariel: Don’t Free Terrorists

(IsraelNN.com) MK Uri Ariel of the Ichud Le’umi (National Union) sent an urgent letter to outgoing Prime Minister Olmert Sunday asking him not to free terrorists in exchange for kidnapped prisoner Gilad Shalit. Reports in the Arab press on Sunday indicated that Israel was willing to exchange over 1,000 prisoners in return for Shalit.

Ariel explained, “Giving in to the kidnappers will only bring more kidnappings.” Ariel also explained that “freeing murderers will turn Hamas’ loss in the war to a victory.” Instead of freeing terrorists, Ariel proposes that the government place pressure on Hamas by stopping the transfer of money, goods and energy to Gaza.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/160449

[bemildred]

5. ANALYSIS / Hamas rift holding up approval of Gilad Shalit deal

Anyone who has been burned repeatedly in the past needs to be extra careful, but over the weekend it seemed that for the first time some optimism was justified. A genuine opportunity is out there, not only for a long-term cease-fire in the Gaza Strip, but also, according to a variety of sources linked to the talks, for a deal to free captured soldier Gilad Shalit.

The main obstacle to what sources have described as a "negotiated formula" remains Khaled Meshal and the Hamas politburo in Damascus.

Even though details remain unclear, it appears that the most significant change occurred in Hamas' "domestic" leadership. For the first time in weeks, senior figures of the organization, including Mahmoud al-Zahar, left the Strip to visit Cairo and then Damascus for talks. It seems they have reached the end of their tether, with Israeli military pressure and the economic siege on the Strip, accompanied by the constant threat on the lives of Hamas leaders. The Hamas leadership in Gaza is ready for a deal, one that will include the opening of the border crossings, an 18-month cease-fire, and probably an exchange of Shalit for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. A finalizing of the deal - there will be no signing of this "non-paper" - is still very much up to the Palestinian leadership. The head of Hamas' military wing, Ahmed Ja'abari, is likely to oppose it. But Meshal's opinion is even more important in light of his steady opposition to any progress in recent months.

Zahar is expected to make the view from Gaza clear to Meshal; a rejection of the Egyptian proposal will be seen as missing a historic opportunity to ensure Hamas' control over the Strip.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1062322.html

[oberliner]

6. Egypt sources: Hamas agrees to link Shalit deal to opening of Gaza border

Hamas has agreed to Israel's demand that the opening of Gaza Strip border crossings be linked to a deal for the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Egyptian sources told Haaretz on Sunday.

The Islamist group's new stance on the matter allows for further progress in the Egyptian-mediated talks for a cease-fire deal with Israel in the Gaza Strip.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1062350.html

Does this mean Shalit is alive?

[bemildred]

9. It is movement of a sort, if true.

As for Shalit, one can only hope he is alive and will be released, and of course all the other people that would be released too. Personally, I think the Hamas guys would be foolish to let the chance go, but bombing people can interfere with their judgment.

[azurnoir]

7. I' ll beleive it when I se it

this has been rumored before, however I do see another angle here that being the "upcoming" PA elections

[ohio2007]

8. are they getting a corpse for 1,001 fighters?