Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said Monday that Israel would be forced to release numerous prisoners in order to free kidnapped IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit. According to Mubarak, the deal would include a prisoner swap separated into two stages. First, Shalit would be returned to Israel in an exchange for jailed Palestinian women and minors. The second part of the deal would be based upon the release of Palestinian men imprisoned in Israel. However, Israeli sources were still convinced that no such deal was in the process. | Unfortunately, they always say that just before it turns out that it was in the process. In that respect the Israelis are no more truthful than the Paleos. |
Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Yisrael Maimon insisted that a deal securing Shalit's release was not close at hand. "There is not yet a deal," Maimon told Israel Radio. "The same foreign reports give expectations and optimism that are not correct. They talk about days ... I think on this it's best to be more cautious."