The London-based Al-Hayat Arabic language newspaper said that negotiations with Israel over the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit would resume after next weekend. The report said that the head of Egyptian intelligence, Morad Muwafi, had discussed the matter of Shalit's release with Saudi officials and Hamas terror chief Khaled Mashal.
Sunday marks Gilad Shalit's 25 birthday, his sixth in Hamas captivity.