'Closer than ever' to prisoner deal

Image of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit on Hamas poster

TEL AVIV – The Israeli government and Hamas are closer now than ever to accepting terms to release kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, according to multiple sources involved in brokering the deal.

"We are making huge efforts to strike a deal on Shalit," an Egyptian security official told WND. "We are closer now than before, including during the term of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert."

Egypt has been serving as a mediator between Israel and Hamas regarding the exchange of Shalit – kidnapped in 2006 – for a large number of Palestinian convicts. Hamas has asked for the freedom of hundreds of terrorists, many of whom were directly involved in killing Israelis.

According to sources in Egypt and Hamas, former President Jimmy Carter also has been serving as a primary mediator in the Shalit affair.

The sources said Israel has expressed willingness to release hundreds of prisoners, including top terrorists whose freedom was formerly opposed by the Olmert administration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, however, is demanding many of the top terrorists be expelled to somewhere outside the Palestinian territories, the sources said.

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Netanyahu's office did not have an immediate comment on the report.

One source involved in the prisoner exchange negotiations told WND that Hamas recently passed a cassette tape from Shalit to his parents. The information could not be corroborated with other sources.

While there have been multiple reports the past few years of breakthroughs in the Shalit negotiations, many commentators here long have speculated Hamas does not want to release the Israeli soldier, explaining he is too big a bargaining chip for the Islamist group to let go. Also, Hamas clearly has used the prisoner negotiations themselves as a means to gain legitimacy with the international community, pointing out that since Israel is indirectly talking to Hamas, other countries should as well.

However, according to top Hamas sources speaking to WND, a deal for the release of Shalit is likely to be finalized if an agreement is reached on a second tract – setting new Palestinian elections.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' term in office formally expired in January. He has unilaterally extended his rule based on an "emergency" law that allows the PA president to stay in office during an "emergency" for extended periods of time without new elections. Hamas has been demanding new ballots.

If talks for reconciliation between Abbas and Hamas result in an agreement on new elections for January 2010, Hamas is likely to sign a deal just before that to release Shalit, Hamas sources said.

An Egyptian security official concurred: "Hamas wants the credit for a massive prisoner release right before new elections. Palestinians will be on the streets celebrating Hamas and they may carry that sentiment over to the polls."

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