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IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, abducted by Hamas militants in June 2006 (Reproduction) Last update - 10:12 01/07/2008 Olmert: Let's speed up deal for Shalit By Amos Harel and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Gilad Shalit, Ehud Olmert  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would like to speed up the negotiations with Hamas over kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, sources in the Prime Minister's Bureau said Monday night. Olmert has instructed all those involved in the negotiations to do what is necessary so that the talks can progress quickly, as soon as Hamas gives Israel a new list of prisoners it wants released under the deal. Meanwhile, Ofer Dekel, the Israeli official responsible for negotiating for the release of Shalit, as well as the two Israel Defense Forces soldiers held by Hezbollah, is expected to travel to Germany this week in order to conclude the final arrangements for the prisoner swap with the Lebanese Shi'ite group. Advertisement The Israeli negotiator is still waiting for details from the German mediator, Gerhard Konrad, before he leaves for Germany. Prior to Dekel's trip, Israel and Hezbollah are expected to sign  separately - the agreement on the prisoner swap, before representatives of the German mediator. Neither Israel nor the German mediator have received the Hezbollah report regarding the group's efforts to locate downed navigator Ron Arad. However, Hezbollah informed the mediator in general terms what the document will include. Israel had given Hezbollah, through Konrad, detailed questions on the nature of the report. Hezbollah is expected to state in the report that it tried to locate Arad but that the navigator is dead, and the group has not managed to find out where he is buried. Sources close to the negotiations with Hezbollah said that the initial responses from Lebanon suggest that the group has accepted the current framework of the deal. However, they said there still may be last-minute obstacles - and until the prisoner exchange takes place, the case will remain open. The prisoner exchange is expected to be carried out at the Rosh Hanikra crossing, on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Barring any unexpected delays, the deal is expected to be concluded late next week. As part of the deal, reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev are to be returned to Israel. Israel believes both are dead. The "Humanitarian Agreement" with Hezbollah does not include a specific section on the release of Palestinians held in Israel. As part of the deal, it was agreed that Israel would release Palestinians, but that Israel would decide who and how many. Releasing Palestinians would be a gesture by the Israeli government to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is overseeing the German mediator. Contrary to claims by official sources last week, the deal involves more than 10 Palestinians - possibly as many as 50. However, the cabinet decision on this matter may be delayed until after the prisoner exchange with Hezbollah is completed. This matter stirred opposition from a number of ministers during the cabinet meeting Sunday, when the prisoner exchange agreement was deliberated, especially because they received the impression from Dekel that more than 10 Palestinians would be released. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Finance Minister Roni Bar-On were concerned by this. Both Mossad chief Meir Dagan and his Shin Bet counterpart Yuval Diskin had already expressed opposition to the deal, and were critical of this aspect as well. Livni argued that Israel must ensure that the German mediator tell Hezbollah not to be optimistic over the number and identity of the prisoners. She insisted that the numbers must be kept low. Security and political sources said yesterday that after releasing the prisoners as part of the deal, Israel may free more Palestinian prisoners as a gesture of goodwill toward Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. However, there has been no decision on this matter yet, and the cabinet has not received a detailed report. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Terror in the capital A Palestinian rammed his bulldozer into a bus in Jerusalem, killing three. Poetic injustice Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish blends sarcasm and hope in his latest work.   1.   He is in a hurry all of a sudden, the weasel. 03:54  |  Pervert 01/07/08   2.   Olmert vs good governance 04:37  |  Brod 01/07/08   3.   Crazy Deal Re Kuntar Will Make It Worse for Shalit and Israel 04:58  |  Tod Zuckerman 01/07/08   4.   Olmert & Livni must go. Olmert is a defeatist & inept . 05:00  |  Ted Mann 01/07/08   5.   negotiation with terrorists?! 05:03  |  gentile 01/07/08   6.   too little, too late?? 07:00  |  Vogel 01/07/08   7.   The crossings should remain closed until Schalit is released. 08:46  |  Rafi 01/07/08   8.   Geee so what about the last two years 08:49  |  SJ 01/07/08   9.   OHLMERT TO SPEED UP DEAL FOR SHALIT? 11:00  |  HAFIZ 01/07/08   10.   to Olmert re Shalit 13:25  |  Hilda 01/07/08   11.   Advice to Hamas: 14:37  |  Natallie Durson 01/07/08   12.   Gilad Shalit 16:21  |  leven5 01/07/08   13.   free the children first you savages! 17:43  |  lakshmi 01/07/08   14.   Get it done 17:51  |  Dave Duncan 01/07/08   15.   14 Dave Duncan,what do you mean by your mendacious little piece 19:05  |  lakshmi 01/07/08   16.   THE ONLY DEALS MERT SPEEDS UP ARE THE ONES THAT READ:GET ISRAELIS 18:12  |  glenna 02/07/08   17.   #15 IF THE REAL TERRORISTS ARE IN TEL AVIV AND US WHITE HOUSE... 19:56  |  glenna 03/07/08

Read & React Shot and bleeding, Jerusalem terrorist kept going to kill baby's mother Responses: 143 ANALYSIS / Terrorist or petty criminal run amok? Responses: 124 Ari Shavit: Strike on Iran is good for Israel and U.S. in long run Responses: 78 Reuven Rivlin: Talkbackers, not security services, are setting Israeli policy Responses: 31 Obama enlists Jewish lawmakers in outreach effort Responses: 53 Rosner's Domain Back to Vietnam Poll: Do you believe Israel might attack Iran? Why did the US go to war in Iraq? (WTR) Young adult Jews prefer to marry Jews The rules have changed! Klein still alive! (WTR) More Headlines 19:40 Source: Hezbollah swap to take place next week 19:13 Qassam hits Negev, sixth since start of Gaza truce 19:44 Olmert: Raze terrorist's home, revoke family's social benefits 12:18 How many missiles will be fired from Iran, Syria, Lebanon in the next war? 17:32 U.S. envoy: We won't intervene in Israel-Syria talks 15:59 Jerusalem terrorist's family told to take down mourners' tent 19:19 Israeli rabbi to attend Saudi-sponsored interfaith meet 12:59 Obama enlists Jewish lawmakers in outreach effort 13:50 Barak okays construction of dormitory at Hebron seminary 19:09 Hitler wax figure unveiled in Berlin amid criticism 13:07 Iran: Israel holding diplomats who vanished in Lebanon in 1982 19:00 Haredim riot across Israel in protest of slain rebbetzin's autopsy 14:41 Study: Israelis like to smoke marijuana, less keen on coke 17:22 Man who killed IDF soldier outside Haifa nightclub gets life in prison Previous Editions Select Day 02 jul 01 jul 30 jun 29 jun 27 jun 26 jun 25 jun 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun

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