The father of kidnapped IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit, and the families of reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, met with Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Friday morning to receive an update on negotiations for their sons' return from captivity.

Barak refused to give Shalit a written guarantee that Israel would not agree to open the Rafiah passage before a deal was reached for freeing Gilad. News website NFC reported that Barak tried to convince the Shalit family that Israel intends to insist that the Rafiah passage will not be opened until such a deal is reached, but would not put the promise in writing.



Shalit expressed concern this week that his son could be smuggled to Egypt if the passage were opened. He said he did not want to live through what the Arad family experienced after their son, IAF navigator Ron Arad, was taken to Iran after he was captured by Amal terrorists when his aircraft was shot down over Lebanon in 1986. With the exception of one handwritten letter, Arad was never heard from again.

Noam Shalit flatly told journalists upon leaving the meeting with Barak that he was "not satisfied" with the meeting.

No further meetings are planned any time soon.

Swap with Hizbullah Believed to be Imminent

A prisoner swap deal for the return of IDF reservists Goldwasser and Regev is reportedly imminent, following a final round of negotiations by government envoy Ofer Dekel with German mediators this week. The price for their return was freedom for Lebanese Druze murderous terrorist Samir Kuntar and four other operatives.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak told Israeli reporters Thursday that a deal with Hizbullah regarding the jihadist group's ransom demands was around the corner. The proposed deal with Hizbullah for the release of two kidnapped IDF soldiers will be presented to the security cabinet on Sunday for approval.

It is still not known whether either of the two Israeli soldiers is alive, or what condition they might be in if they are. At least one is known to be wounded, and no sign of life has ever been heard from either since they were abducted by Hizbullah terrorists in the cross-border attack that ignited the Second Lebanon War two years ago.

Kuntar is serving one of the longest prison terms ever handed down to a Lebanese terrorist for his role in leading a brutal terrorist attack on the coastal city of Nahariyah in 1979. He was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison for the vicious murders of four Israelis, including two toddlers. Until this point, Kuntar was being kept on ice as a final bargaining chip for the return of Ron Arad.

According to the Nazareth-based newspaper al-Sinara, a hero's welcome has already been planned for Kuntar in his home village of Aabey.

In an interview published Friday, village chairman Nezia Hamza said, "The main celebrations will first be held in Dahiya, the Hizbullah stronghold in Beirut, which Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah will also attend. Afterwards, he [Kuntar] will come to his hometown, where the masses will be awaiting him."

Kuntar's brother, Bassam, and his attorney, Yaman Zidan, both confirmed that the prisoner swap deal had been completed, but said they could not make a statement or release information until Sunday.

No Deal on Shalit Yet

Shalit's family has been more successful in obtaining signs of life from their son's captors, but thus far has been less successful in pushing the government to obtain his release.

Despite promises by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to tie Shalit's release to the current tahadiyeh, or period of "calm" with Hamas terrorists in Gaza, the agreement ultimately went into effect with little more than a promise to continue discussions on the matter.

Shalit's heartbroken parents, left with no alternative, threatened to take the matter to the High Court of Justice and appeal the legality of a ceasefire that ignored their son's safety in enemy hands.

Officials in the Prime Minister's Office attempted to calm the threatening storm by explaining, "We do not intend to continue the negotiations in the same vein as before. We want intensive talks that will yield results."

Olmert is scheduled to head to Cairo for talks on Tuesday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak over the issue, while Ofer Dekel turns his attention to Hamas, along with Egyptian security chief Omar Suleiman.

Dekel is expected to remain in Cairo for as long as is necessary to conclude the talks needed to bring Shalit home, according to sources in the Prime Minister's Office.

"It is important to keep in mind that these are difficult, sensitive negotiations that will take time," said one source, who added that without implementing the temporary ceasefire, it was very unlikely the talks could have been held at all.