Report: Gilad Shalit could be freed by next week
Sources close to Israeli Arab prisoners say there has been progress in talks to free captive IDF soldier.
By Jack Khoury Tags: Gilad Shalit Hamas Israel news GazaA source close to families of Israeli Arab prisoners on Wednesday said that they have received hints of progress in a deal that would free captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.
Shalit, an Israel Defense Forces soldier, was abducted by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid in June 2006, and has been held in captivity since then. Hamas has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the Israeli soldier's freedom.
"We are receiving hints of significant progress in negotiations, although we are always careful with these things because changes can always occur at the last minute," the source told Haaretz on Wednesday, adding that they are optimistic about celebrating a "double holiday," referring to the upcoming Muslim holiday Eid al Adha, which begins next Friday.
The source said he hopes this signals a breakthrough in talks, and added that both Israel and Hamas have taken seriously the issue of reducing sentences for Israeli Arab prisoners.
Hamas sources on Wednesday also said there had been progress in the deal. "Hamas cannot concede one name of the list of prisoners from the start of negotiations." The sources added, however, that Hamas would be willing to compromise and send the prisoners of contention abroad instead of to their homes in Gaza and the West Bank.
Also on Wednesday, Arabic-language news network Alhurra, based in the U.S., also reported that a deal for Shalit's release would get underway by next week.
According to the uncorroborated report, Shalit will be released in exchange for "hundreds of prisoners."
Alhurra reported that Shalit would be released to Egypt and then continue to Israel.
Meanwhile, Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, on Wednesday met with French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Noam Shalit responded to the reports of progress on Wednesday, saying "It's not over until it's over," Israel Radio reported.
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You are correct. Additionally, each time an article as this one is published, the Terrorist organizations get additional ideas such as "Hamas wants way too much" they say, "hmm, perhaps it's not enough for his release.." so they not only read the article, but the opinions of the readers as well!
Too much information leaked into the public typically creates negative consequences. If they are making progress in getting him out of captivity, why should we know about it until it actually happens. This information falls into the wrong hands and opposition momentum increases.
Hamas leaders do not want to release Shalit as long as they can use the situation for propoganda purposes! there is no gain for them after his release. Israel must raise stakes so high as to insure Shalit release! otherwise the boy will stay put where he is.
I just pray that this will really happen! I wonder what condition he will be in when returned, he looked so frail and unwell when he was shown on the TV recently. What a terrible ordeal for him and his parents!
Shalit will never be released. He is more valuable for Israeli politicians as a talking point than the price any Israeli politician would have to pay for his release. The math is simple. Bibi gets a political bump every time he uses Shalit against Hamas. As long as Shalit stays in captivity, Bibi gets to use Shalit as a pawn to justify doing whatever he pleases to the Gazans. On the other hand, Bibi would take a political hit if he actually met the demands required for Shalit's release. The actual release of prisoners would harm him politically. Leaving Shalit to rot doesn't hurt Bibi, because he just blames everything on Hamas. Given that political math, where leaving Shalit to rot doesn't hurt Bibi, and freeing Shalit damages Bibi, it will never happen. I feel sorry for Shalit. He deserves better. But the leader of his country would rather use Shalit's continued captivity to attack Hamas than to free him.
the probability is that there will be a peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians and the recognition of a Palestinian State by the UN and Israel.
How many times have we had this very headline repeated in the last few years? If there is any truth at all to this story,,,, please do the right thing and get it off the headlines, and allow due process to take place without media interference. In cases like these, the tail can wag the dog, with negative consequences. No one needs that. Thank you.
Let's all pray that this happens. Jews around the world want their brother back!
This remnded me when I started my mandatory military service in Turkey in 1977. At the Gaziemir reserve officer school at day one the rumors started that our class would be discharged early after 4 months instead of completing the entire 18 months. It never happened. The funny thing was that even those who first started the rumours later belived in it too. Right now this sounds the same to me but I hope I am wrong and Shalit is in fact returned home. He and his family sufered a lot.
Good news that the hostage Shalit will get free, along with the hostages Israel took before and after Hamas took shalit.
Hamas is making a mistake, any deal with Israel should be based on land theft.As part of the deal,Hamas, should make Israel agree to stop expanding settlements.
Make sure of what you say before making it an article...
Good news!! But "Gaza charity offers $1.4 million for capture of IDF soldiers" So who is next, and how many prisoners will it take this time?
At least one report like this has come out every month since Gilad's capture. Sorry for being negative, but this is not going to happen next week. I won't be holding my breath.
IT will never happen. It seems every week Shalit's release is imminent, and somehow the deal never goes through. Hamas wants way to much.