Hamas threatens to turn Shalit into 'second Ron Arad'

Hamas has warned that abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit will face a fate as uncertain as that of missing airman Ron Arad if Israel continues to tarry on negotiations for a prisoner exchange, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.

Abu Obeiada, a spokesman for the Gaza-based militant group made the comment on Tuesday, during an exercise simulating the capture of Israeli soldiers, the radio said.

He also accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of pressuring Israel to delay negotiations so as not to release Hamas prisoners.

Egypt has been mediating negotiations for the release of Shalit, who has been held captive in the Gaza Strip since he was snatched by militants in a 2006 cross-border raid.

Israel has received some signs of life from the missing soldier, but the negotiations have for the most part been kept mum.

Israel this week agreed to release 199 Palestinian prisoners to the West Bank as a gesture of goodwill to Abbas.

The prisoners slated for release include two with "blood on their hands," convicted of carrying out terror attacks in Israel.

Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin told the cabinet on Monday that the release of these prisoners "creates pressure on Hamas and is likely to accelerate the negotiations over Gilad Shalit."

However, he added, "the gesture will not make Hamas more flexible about its demands, because the organization sees that Israel is releasing prisoners with blood on their hands, which merely causes Hamas to harden its position."

According to a government source, Shin Bet representatives spoke in favor of the gesture to Abbas, on the grounds that it would pressure Hamas to conclude a deal for Shalit's return.

Palestinian plan hero's welcome for prisoner slated for release

Meanwhile, Palestinians are planning a hero's welcome on Friday for a man being released from Israeli prison after three decades behind bars.

Palestinian Prisoner Affairs Minister Ashraf Ajrami said Israel has told him the release will take place on Friday, though Israel won't confirm the date.

Atba has spent 32 years in prison for sending out militant cells into Israel.

He is widely considered a hero and symbol of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Ajrami said there would be a rally for Atba and the other freed prisoners in the West Bank town of Ramallah. He will then receive another hero's welcome in his hometown of Nablus.