Report: Meshal says Israel, U.S. nixing deal to free Gilad Shalit

Hamas' political leader Khaled Meshal has said Israel and the United States are torpedoing a deal for the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, according to Israel Radio.

The Damascus-based leader said Israeli and U.S. opposition to a deal stemmed from the fear that the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel that an arrangement would entail would serve to raise Hamas' standing.

Israel Radio reported that Meshal made the comments in an interview on Hamas TV.

Meshal said Hamas has already agreed on the number of Palestinian prisoners to be freed in exchange for Shalit, and all that remained to be decided upon was the names of the prisoners.

Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid in june 2006.

In the interview, Meshal also accused Israel and the U.S. of vetoing reconciliation efforts between the Palestinian Islamic militant group and its secular rival Fatah.

Meshal stated last week that the abducted soldier is alive and being treated well , speaking in an interview with Britain's Sky News television.

	Abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. (Archives)