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Last update - 03:49 12/01/2008 Hamas: Shalit talks halted due to row over prisoner swap criteria By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Gilad shalit, Israel  Negotiations over the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit have come to a halt due to a difference of opinion in the Israeli government regarding the criteria for the release of Palestinian prisoners, a senior Hamas official said on Friday. Hamas' deputy political chief, Mousa Abu Marzouk told the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Jareeda that the group would not give up its demands on Israel, which include the release of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti and PFLP leader Ahmed Sadat. Marzouk's comments came a day after ministers tasked with laying the groundwork for a prisoner exchange to secure the release Shalit met with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Thursday, and presented him with the list of Palestinian prisoners who could be released - signaling that negotiations with Hamas may be close to a deal. Advertisement Political and security officials are cautiously optimistic about a possible deal. The main message is that there is progress, but still no breakthrough. The meeting addressed which prisoners could be released under new, relaxed criteria the ministerial forum set for determing which Palestinian security prisoners have "blood on their hands." This was the first time it presented Olmert with its recommendations. The forum, which includes Vice Premier Haim Ramon, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann and Minister without Portfolio Ami Ayalon, met four times over the past two weeks. Those meetings were also attended by the government's point man on the hostages issue, Ofer Dekel, Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and other senior officials in the defense establishment, Justice Ministry and Israel Prisons Service. The meeting with Olmert lasted two hours, which was longer than expected. From the start there were differences of opinion within the forum, as well as objections to relaxing the criteria, especially from Diskin. However, Dekel, who has been conducting intense negotiations with Hamas through Egypt, believes that given the current circumstances, relaxing the criteria could bring about a deal. "Both sides wish to close a deal, and the process of relaxing criteria is supposed to help with that," a security source said. "But this was the case before, and it still didn't happen. So we need to move with caution, and it is not at all certain that we are nearing the end of the affair." A political source added that the purpose of all the latest discussions, including Thursday's meeting with Olmert, is "to be ready in case the deal ripens." In recent weeks, several signs have generated a sense of progress regarding Gilad Shalit's release. The first sign is a sense of urgency among the security and political top brass in Israel, which led to the marathon talks about relaxing the criteria. The discussion convened by Olmert Thursday, and the presentation of the recommendations also attest to a certain degree of progress. Another indication of progress is the discretion evinced by the ministers involved. Ramon, who heads the forum, has been refusing to answer questions on the matter, and last week even made an irregular request that a discussion of the issue, proposed by MK Yossi Beilin, be removed from the agenda because of its great sensitivity. His request was granted. Related articles: Ministers to present PM list of Palestinians to free for Shalit Report: Israel agrees to release Barghouti in exchange for Shalit Report: Prisoner swap deal for Shalit to be set in next 2 weeks Bookmark to del.icio.us   Diskin's faulty math Haaretz finds the Shin Bet estimate of Palestinian civilian casualties is too low. Wooing minorities The color of Barack Obama's skin has returned as an issue to the campaign.   1.   No progress has been made 09:19  |  Natallie Durson 11/01/08   2.   Question to Haaretz webmaster 10:30  |  V 11/01/08   3.   Re V #2 11:24  |  Esther 11/01/08   4.   # 2 V I am not on payroll. I do it because I love it! 11:29  |  Natallie Durson 11/01/08   5.   Hope and pray.... 11:32  |  Esther 11/01/08   6.   why is it the joos are world renowned deal makers 12:23  |  huh? 11/01/08   7.   THEN WE WAIT FOR THE NEXT KIDNAPPING ! 13:13  |  victor hardman 11/01/08   8.   #6 huh? or is it "Duh"? 13:33  |  * BEN JABO 11/01/08   9.   prisoners 13:58  |  guy 11/01/08   10.   It will be dragged to the day the Vinograd Report 14:00  |  Mefisto 11/01/08   11.   I am not convinced 14:35  |  Murray 11/01/08   12.   douche bag durson 15:18  |  danny 11/01/08   13.   V#2: a simple answer 16:20  |  Richard S 11/01/08   14.   The "release Shalit" charade 16:22  |  Tosefta 11/01/08   15.   for Esther #3 (Fine with me, but what`s your point ?) 16:44  |  V 11/01/08   16.   Conspiracy theory regarding Slowman 16:57  |  Barak Ravid 11/01/08   17.   V # 2 re; payroll 17:01  |  American in NY 11/01/08   18.   yes...u must wait next kidnapping 17:13  |  Hmas men 11/01/08   19.   Another Sahlti sould be exist !! 17:15  |  Hamas Kid 11/01/08   20.   Gnatallie Durson Is a Troll 17:22  |  Tex 11/01/08   21.   Has It Occurred to Huh? 17:26  |  Tex 11/01/08   22.   Well, American, Head On Down to Your Local Arabian Consulate 17:47  |  UR Nuts 11/01/08   23.   and the troll clearly has no idea what `personal growth` is 17:47  |  michelle 11/01/08   24.   Hmas men/Hamas Kid: a gentle reminder 18:08  |  Richard S 11/01/08   25.   Response for V #11 18:22  |  Esther 11/01/08   26.   14. tep akhi two for one sale coming up :) 18:37  |  muslim 11/01/08   27.   to # 20 18:42  |  Hamas kid 11/01/08   28.   Shalit talks halted.... 18:56  |  Esther 11/01/08   29.   18. to the big mouthed tex 19:16  |  huh? 11/01/08   30.   arabist apologist charade 19:16  |  peter 11/01/08   31.   21. Richard S. safe in toronto 19:18  |  huh? 11/01/08   32.   The breakthrough will be when we get Moshe Feiglin as PM 19:29  |  He will fix them 11/01/08   33.   Chinese wisdom for Slowman 19:43  |  Barak Ravid 11/01/08   34.   #16 Hamas Kid 20:32  |  Marc 11/01/08   35.   To Hamas Kid 20:34  |  Raanan Geberer 11/01/08   36.   #2 Natalie Durson is a computer virus 20:47  |  Giora 11/01/08   37.   #15 Humus is better than Hamas 20:49  |  Dr. Phill 11/01/08   38.   #15 Humus is better than Hamas 20:49  |  Dr. Phill 11/01/08   39.   29. actually Raanan Geberer Christianity and Islam are based 20:53  |  sundayschool teacher 11/01/08   40.   #22 - Excellent idea 23:59  |  V 11/01/08   41.   to 34 00:50  |  Hamas men 12/01/08   42.   Re V#40 09:09  |  Esther 12/01/08   43.   On re-reading V #40 09:17  |  Esther 12/01/08   44.   #37 Anything is better than Hamas 09:35  |  Dr Phil 12/01/08   45.   #2 negative response bias 12:30  |  MLK 12/01/08   46.   #40 V - you might ask the very same questions 07:27  |  * BEN JABO 13/01/08   47.   #35 Hamas Kid - one easy question 07:34  |  * BEN JABO 13/01/08   48.   #43 Esther - most interesting 07:37  |  * BEN JABO 13/01/08   49.   #35 - Hamas Kid - 2nd Request 00:42  |  * BEN JABO 16/01/08

Today Online IDF kills 19 Palestinians in raids on Gaza City Responses: 440 Diplomat: U.S. firmly opposes all W. Bank, E. J'lem construction Responses: 252 Israel offers Jewish Anglo doctors $60,000 to immigrate Responses: 146 Historian threatens to expose post-Shoah pogroms in Poland Responses: 144 25 rockets fired at Israel after deadly IDF Gaza raid Responses: 281 Rosner's Domain Jewish leaders: "falsehood and innuendo used in mischaracterization of Obama" (WTR) Olmert to American Jews: I want your voice on Jerusalem The case for bombing Iran (WTR) The Israel Factor: Let McCain deal with Iran Poll: Does Bush still placing the promotion of democracy at the top of his agenda? More Headlines 09:21 At least 25 Qassam rockets fired at southern Israel 09:14 IDF kills top Islamic Jihad commander in West Bank 08:13 Defense officials fear IDF raids in Gaza could threaten Shalit deal 05:32 ANALYSIS / Despite raid, Hamas, Israel don't seek escalation 04:25 Bush: Olmert's coalition strong, can withstand peace process 07:16 German archives' opening helps Israeli man track his father's death in Holocaust 08:12 Yisrael Beitenu head Lieberman likely to leave coalition Wednesday 05:58 Haaretz's Gideon Levy wins prize for cultural dialogue 06:02 Jerusalem approves controversial Mughrabi bridge project Previous Editions Select Day 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan 02 jan

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