News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) According to the influential Arabic Al-Hayat newspaper, Hamas has rejected Israel’s offer to free 450 terrorists held in Israeli detention in exchange for captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.  According to the report, Ofer Dekel, Israel's government appointee in charge of MIA affairs presented Hamas with a list of 450 terrorists Israel was willing to include in a deal.  Hamas’s earlier demand was for 1000 terrorists. A senior Hamas official has also demanded that Israel release Fatah Tenzim military wing commander Marwan Barghouti (sentenced to five life-terms for numerous terrorist attacks and murders) and Ahmad Sadat of the PFLP (accused of murdering Israeli Minister Rehavam Ze'evi).

Israel has proposed adding several crucial elements to the talks including fixing a timeline, establishing Hamas as the sole responsible party for Shalit and his captivity, putting in place a diplomatic "binding mechanism" which would force Hamas to continue the negotiations even if Israel is attacked and responds.

Concurrently, Egyptian officials held talks with Hamas representatives. According to Egyptian sources, there is high pressure on the Egyptian mediators to gain the release of Shalit; "Cairo's prestige is now at stake - and this is palpable. They are exhibiting a newfound commitment to progressing in the negotiations," the source said.