Manager Meir Indor of the Almagor umbrella group of terror-victims associations said Sunday that a senior diplomatic source told him that deal for the release of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was closer than ever. Families of terror victims oppose the release of hundreds of terrorists in exchange for Shalit.

Interviewed on Arutz Sheva's Hebrew news journal, the reserves lieutenant-colonel said the source told him, "Unfortunately for you, you can worry. This time it's serious. There's progress toward a deal." An estimated 1,400 security prisoners, including convicted murderers, stand to be released in three stages if the reports are true. Indor plans to petition the Supreme Court to overturn the deal or at least prevent the release of certain prisoners.