Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange rumors intensify

JERUSALEM (WJC)–Western diplomatic sources have told Arab newspaper ‘al-Hayat’ that Israel has agreed to release 443 of the 450 prisoners Hamas has demanded be freed in exchange for the release of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

In addition, the sources said Israel had demanded that over 100 of the prisoners to be freed will be banned from returning to the West Bank. According to the report, the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu has refused to release seven prisoners, including the former Fatah Secretary-General Marwan Barghouti and the secretary-general of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, Ahmad Saadat.

Hamas is reportedly expected to give a positive response to the offer if Israel agrees to release all 450 prisoners on the list, even if Jerusalem insists on the deportation. The ‘Reuters’ news agency quoted a top Hamas official as saying that the German mediator had postponed his scheduled visit to Gaza because Israel wanted to modify its reply to the Hamas demands. Hamas deputy chief Moussa Abu Marzouk refused to comment on his movement’s stance on the deportation of prisoners. Marzouk told ‘al-Hayat’ that “we do not reject it, or accept it, it is part of the negotiations, and there are details to be discussed.”

Israeli officials familiar with the negotiations said Jerusalem was intent on preventing Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis from returning to the occupied West Bank, which is close to Israeli population centers.

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Preceding provided by World Jewish Congress