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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Palestinian PM confirms prisoner swap talks |
| 2006-09-03 |
| Efforts to secure the release of an Israeli soldier captured by militants in the Gaza Strip appear to be gaining speed, with reports Israel may release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in return for the corporal. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, of the ruling Hamas movement, has confirmed published reports that Egypt is mediating talks on a prisoner swap between Israel and armed groups in Gaza that seized the soldier. "The Egyptians are making a lot of efforts," he said. "There are certain things going on to solve this question but there is nothing specific. "We hope the Egyptian efforts succeed." Israel's major Yediot Aharonot newspaper reported that under secret talks brokered by Egypt, Israel could release up to 800 Palestinian prisoners in return for Corporal Shalit, who turned 20 last Monday while still in captivity. Quoting unnamed security officials, the newspaper said Israel would free the prisoners in three stages and that the negotiations were being held up over the timetable of the releases. It said Israel had refused as part of the deal to release Marwan Barghuti, a leader of the Palestinian uprising and a senior figure in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction. Corporal Shalit's father, Noam, has told AFP that talks over his son's release are under way. "There are indirect contacts by Egyptian intermediaries," he said. "For the moment, there is no progress but I hope there will be some soon. "That would be normal after 70 days." But asked to comment on Sunday's reports of a prisoner swap, a spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said: "We do not talk with terrorists". The Jewish state has officially demanded Corporal Shalit's unconditional release but local media have reported that talks have been under way for some time. Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said last month Israel would negotiate for the release of two soldiers whose capture by Hezbollah militants on July 12 sparked the Israeli offensive in Lebanon. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |