Israel, Palestinians to swap prisoners within 48 hours: report

[bemildred]

This is good stuff. I don't believe it, but stay tuned.

Israel will release 1,400 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for its soldier taken hostage in Gaza since late June, the Qatar-based al-Sharq daily reported on Monday.

According to a deal, which will take effect within 48 hours, Israel will release Hamas ministers and lawmakers and reopen crossing points into Gaza, the report said.

Israel will also stop assassinations and return tax revenues owned to the Palestinian National Authority, it added.

In addition to the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, who was seized by Palestinian militant groups on June 25, the Palestinians are asked to stop rocket attacks into Israel, said the report.

Peoples Daily

[rockymountaindem]

1. I don't believe this either

That deal sounds way too good for Hamas. Israel promises to stop assassinations and release 1400 prisoners for one soldier and the request (like all those made before which have been broken) to stop the firing of rockets from Gaza? That sounds like a giveaway to me.

[breakaleg]

2. I'm skeptical of this.... but

in the article it says Israel will return lawmakers and ministers, which aren't criminals anyway, so it's not like they are releasing legitimate prisoners of Palestine.

Maybe that's why they've been hunting them down and kidnapping them like they have - leverage.

[Solo_in_MD]

3. I too am quite skeptical

[Lithos]

4. Interesting

There was supposed to be an exchange before the Hezbollah situation took off, but was shelved. Course the numbers seem rather large unless other things were on the table. (Including rocket attacks).

L-

[bemildred]

5. Seems rather generous all of a sudden.

Like everyone suddenly comes to their senses. Toying with the idea this sort of story is intended to apply pressure in some way, foreshadowing or the like.

[Lithos]

6. Yes

I'm there with you too. Makes me wonder about the backstory.

L-

[Scurrilous]

7. Al-Hayat: Gilad Shalit being held in Egypt

London-based Arabic-language newspaper reports kidnapped soldier has been recently transferred from Gaza to Egypt ahead of anticipated prisoner exchange. Israel has yet to confirm report

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3299804,00.html

<snip>

"Kidnapped soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, was transferred to Egypt and has been held in the country for quite some time, ahead of an anticipated prisoner exchange deal between his captors and Israel, the London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Hayat reported Tuesday, quoting "a Palestinian source relying on credible Arab sources."

According to the same source, Hamas has recently agreed to relinquish the principle that the two parts of the agreement – Shalit's release and the freeing of the Palestinian prisoners - be held simultaneously, and consented to hand the captive over to Egyptian hands in exchange for Israeli guarantees regarding the swap.

Senior Palestinian officials told Ynet that the mutual release and the regain of calm between the sides might take time. The blessing for sealing the deal is yet too soon.

However, they did not confirm that Captive soldier Gilad Shalit was already in Egypt but estimated that the completion of intensive negotiations is possible within days.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh as well as President Mahmoud Abbas, confirmed this week that the deal is underway and expressed hope for it to be completed soon."

[bemildred]

8. Peres: Once Shalit is released, Olmert and Abbas will open talks

Vice Premier Shimon Peres, speaking Tuesday amid reports of an imminent prisoner exchange deal for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, said that once Shalit were freed, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would invite Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas for talks based on the road map peace plan.

Abbas said in remarks published on Tuesday morning that progress had been made toward a prisoner exchange deal for the eventual release of Shalit, kidnapped on June 25 in the course of a Palestinian attack on an Israeli border post outside the Gaza Strip.

In an interview with the Bahrain-based Bahrain-based Akhbar Al Halij newspaper, Abbas said that a possible deal would be based on an arrangement under which Egypt would accept Shalit as a "deposit," after which the number of Palestinians to be released in return for his freedom would be made public.

Peres, asked if Olmert would soon invite Abbas for the first talks between the two leaders, Peres told Army Radio, "The moment that this matter is solved, the matter of our captive soldiers, and I hope it will be solved, that is what will happen."

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/758990.html