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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas: Progress on Shalit deal to be kept away from media |
| 2008-07-07 |
| Hamas denied reports on Sunday that the negotiations over the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit have stalled. The deputy head of the Hamas politburo, Dr. Mussa Abu Marzuk, said that the reports are incorrect and talks on the matter of a prisoner exchange will be carried out in secret, away from the media. In an interview to Al-Shams Radio in Nazareth, Abu Marzuk said that both sides, Israel and Hamas, are interested in achieving progress on the prisoner swap. 'The Shalit case will be handled away from the eyes of the media and journalists - this was the agreement on this matter. It is not correct to talk about a freeze or a delay in the negotiations because there have been no substantive or practical moves on this issue,' the senior Hamas figure said. 'It is important to remember that this is a case with implications on the prisoners and their families, and therefore the two sides prefer to deal with the issue away from the media,' he aded. Abu Marzuk asked not to discuss further details regarding the discussions, which are being conducted indirectly through Egyptian mediation, but said that a Hamas delegation will travel 'as soon as possible' to Cairo. |
| Posted by:Fred |