News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Hamas and Israel differ on which terrorists will be released and not on the number involved for the return of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, Voice of Israel government radio reported Friday morning. The two sides reportedly have agreed that Israel will free approximately 80 of the 320 terrorists Hamas wants released.

However, Hamas has publicly stated it will take a less compromising stance following the success of Hizbullah in winning the freedom of child-killer Samir Kuntar, who was sentenced to life in prison, in return for the bodies of kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Shalit has been held captive by Hamas and other terrorists since they kidnapped him in June, 2006, three weeks before Hizbullah staged a similar terrorist operation inside Israel's northern border.

Israeli negotiator Ofir Dekel is to visit Egypt to resume mediated talks with Hamas, which has balked at returning to Cairo before it defines its own position.