Senior negotiator Ofer Dekel and Shin Bet (General Security Services) head Yuval Diskin returned from Cairo on Monday night following negotiations for the return of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. According to Channel 1 government television, the two returned without a final deal for the soldier's return.
On their return, Diskin and Dekel planned to meet with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and update him on the negotiations. On Tuesday morning the cabinet will meet and Olmert will update his ministers on the latest Egyptian-mediated talks with Hamas.
Hamas spokesmen say that Israel has agreed to release all the terrorist prisoners on Hamas's list. However, the sides have not yet reached a full agreement, they said.
Israeli officials said Israel had agreed to release most of the terrorists on the Hamas list, but did not confirm that negotiators had agreed to release all of the 450 prisoners on the list.
Another sticking point was Israel's insistence that terrorists who have been directly involved in murder be released to Gaza or an Arab country, and not allowed to return to Judea and Samaria. Hamas has rejected the condition, and says terrorists will leave Judea and Samaria only if they consent to do so.
Ashkenazi on the Way Back
IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi has decided to cut short a visit to the United States in order to participate in Tuesday's cabinet meeting on the Shalit negotiations. He canceled a planned speech to major American donors to programs benefiting IDF soldiers.
IDF spokesmen said Ashkenazi's hasty return indicated a desire to be part of the decision-making process regarding Shalit and nothing more.
Tensions High in Protest Tents
Shalit's supporters have been demonstrating in Jerusalem for several days in hopes of pressuring the government to reach a deal before leaving office. Opponents of terrorist release have held demonstrations in the capital as well, and are calling on Olmert to free Shalit without releasing terrorist prisoners.
Shalit's brother Yoel spoke from the family's protest tent on Monday, saying, “I'm waiting here with all the family for good news.”
"This is nerve-wracking, but we try to stay realistic,” added Aviva Shalit, Gilad's mother.
Gilad Shalit was kidnapped in June 2006, almost 1,000 days ago, while patrolling outside Gaza. His captors have not allowed humanitarian groups to visit him as required by international law.