FROM: J-Post - Tuesday 24 November 02h33
The Hamas delegation which arrived in Egypt on Monday afternoon will meet on Tuesday with the German mediator assigned to the Gilad Schalit case, taking negotiations to release the captured IDF soldier a step forward, Al-Arabiya reported on Monday evening.
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According to the report, the mediator will meet with senior Hamas leaders in Gaza such as Mahmoud Zahar, Khalil al-Haya and Nizar Awdallah, as well as Ahmed Ja'abri, head commander of the organization's military arm.
The delegation crossed into Egypt from Gaza Monday as IAF helicopters hovered overhead.
Senior Gaza official Osama Hamdan had stressed earlier Monday that while Hamas was "serious in its intention to close the prisoner deal," a "happy ending" would not be possible until the "enemy's prime minister" agreed to the organization's "demands and conditions."
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu refused to confirm reports that a prisoner exchange was imminent, stressing during a Likud faction meeting on Monday afternoon that "There is no deal yet, and when there will be, it will be brought for debate in the Knesset and voted on in the cabinet."
"It's a serious dilemma," he said of the possibility that hundreds of prisoners with a track record of terrorism would be released in exchange for Schalit. Throughout the day, relatives of victims of terrorist attacks expressed their adamant opposition to such an outcome, emphasizing that a decision on the deal could not be made without confirming that the public supported it.
The prime minister stated that he was aware of the government's need for public support on the issue of a prisoner exchange. "When the time comes," he pledged, "we will not evade the public debate."
"However," stressed the prime minister, "the time has not come yet."
Netanyahu's remarks came in response to a question posed by Likud MK Tzipi Hotovely.
Earlier Monday, a Palestinian familiar with the talks said that Israel and Hamas were very close to a deal to swap 1,000 Palestinians for Schalit, held for more than three years by the terrorist group.
He said Egyptian and German mediators hope to complete the deal this weekend - by Eid al-Adha, the Muslim Festival of the Sacrifice.
The source spoke on condition of anonymity, as the talks were ongoing.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Prime Minister's Office warned that the foreign media reports were unauthorized and some were "deliberately distorted."
Senior Hamas officials in Gaza and Damascus were set to hold discussions about the latest list of prisoners Israel has apparently agreed to release in a possible swap deal.
Also on Monday, Defence Minister Ehud Barak discussed issues ranging from Schalit's continued captivity to peace talks with the Palestinians in a phone call with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman.
The abduction . . .
On Sunday, 06/25/2006, at 05:40 in the morning, a terrorist group of several Palestinians crossed the border south of the Gaza Strip into Israel through a tunnel near Kerem Shalom and attacked an army facility that was within the sovereign territory of Israel.
The force numbered 8-armed Palestinians. It penetrated about a hundred meters into Israeli territory and split into three groups. The first group shot at an armored car that stood there. It was empty so no one was hurt. The second group attacked an IDL post manned by soldiers of the Desert Patrol. This attack included explosives and gunfire from light weapons which wounded three Israeli soldiers. At the same time at least one rocket was fired and grenades were thrown at a tank positioned in the area. The tank was manned by four soldiers one of whom was Gilad Schalit. The missile hit the rear end of the tank causing the death of its commander and an additional soldier. One soldier was wounded.
Gilad Schalit, the fourth soldier in the tank, was wounded in the shoulder and was abducted from the tank and taken by the terrorists to the Gaza strip.
Gilad’s abductors were members of the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades (the military wing of Palestinian governing party Hamas), the Popular Resistance Committees (which includes members of Fatah, Islamic Jihad and Hamas), and the Army of Islam.
On Monday, 06/26/2006, the Palestinians declared they were willing to give information about Gilad in return for the release of all female and under 18 years old security prisoners held in Israeli prisons.
On Saturday, 07/01/2006, the Palestinians demanded an additional 1000 prisoners be released.
Two days later they set a 24-hour ultimatum. A few hours later Israel stated that it would not cede to the terrorists’ demands.
Who is Gilad Schalit
Gilad (23) was born on 08/28/1986. He is the son of Aviva and Noam Schalit from Mitzpe Hilla in the Western Galilee and the brother of Yoel (25) and Hadas (18).
Gilad was born in Nahariya but was raised from the age of two in Mitzpe Hilla. He went to the regional elementary school in Maona and to junior high in Kfar Veradim. He graduated with distinction from the science class of “Manor Kabri” high school. Gilad loves mainly math and sports. He has enjoyed playing basketball ever since he was a child, but is interested in sports in general. He follows the different leagues and tournaments all over the world, from tennis and basketball to cycling and athletics. If you wish to know the results of a tournament somewhere in the world – it’s Gilad you should ask.
Gilad began his military service about 3 years ago – at the end of July 2005. He preferred to serve in a combat unit despite the fact that he could have avoided combat duty due to a low medical profile. He followed his elder brother Yoel into the armored forces. Yoel had finished his service a year earlier. Gilad was highly motivated. He overcame all the obstacles facing a combat recruit of the armored forces and successfully ended his training a few months ago. For the last couple of months he has been on duty guarding and ensuring the security of the settlements around Gaza.
Gilad is a well-mannered, quiet and introverted young man. An almost permanent shy and hesitant smile light up his face. Gilad is always volunteering to help everyone; even on his short vacations from the army he helped his parents run their “Bed & Breakfast”.
Since the attack at Kerem Shalom on Sunday, 06/25/2006, Gilad has been held in the Gaza Strip by Hamas.
Gilad’s Mother and Father, Yoel and Hadas and all the family and all your friends miss you terribly and wish to see you and your smile already and to embrace you in a strong and loving embrace.
gilad - Prayer for release.jpg
