Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman has advised Hamas to learn from Hizbullah and conduct secret negotiations on releasing kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, Hamas deputy political chief Dr. Musa Abu Marzouq said in an interview with the Al-Quds newspaper in Jerusalem.
Abu Marzouq stated, "It has been learned from informed Palestinian sources that Minister Suleiman and the Egyptian officials asked Hamas not to talk about any details of this file and to benefit from Hizbullah's experience with Israel in negotiating the prisoners' issue that has been taking place in complete secrecy and which reached acceptable results.
"It has also been learned that Cairo will host soon two delegations from the factions that are holding Israeli soldier Shalit and Israel to initiate the first round of talks in complete secrecy far from the media to settle this file on which depends the reopening of the Rafiah Crossing and lifting the siege on the Gaza Strip for good."
Shalit was kidnapped more than two years ago. He is reported to be alive, but the Olmert administration has not been able to carry out promises to gain his release without releasing Arab terrorists.
Hizbullah recently concluded secret negotiations with Israel for the release of several Arab terrorists in return for kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, who most governemtn officials have said did not survive their captivity. At least three Cabinet ministers warned that the agreement would hamper efforts to free Shalit because it would show Hamas that it can demand a higher price.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Cabinet last month that freeing the soldiers was part of the temporary ceasefire deal with Hamas, hammered out through Egyptian mediators. However, no progress on freeing Shalit has been reported since the truce went into effect three weeks ago.