Egyptian media and an Islamic Jihad website have claimed that Hamas is working feverishly to conclude a deal to free kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit before Binyamin Netanyahu takes over as Prime Minister. His proposed coalition government is expected to be approved on Tuesday.
One source even claimed that Defense Minister Ehud Barak will arrive in Egypt in the next 48 hours to conclude an agreement for the release of hundreds of Hamas terrorists, including murderers, in exchange for Shalit. The soldier was kidnapped 1008 days ago by terrorists from Hamas, Popular Resistance Committees and the Army of Islam, associated with Al Qaeda.
Israeli negotiators Ofer Dekel and Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) director Yuval Diskin have tried to pressure Hamas into changing its demands with the warning that they will have a lesser chance of achieving results in a Netanyahu government.
The office of outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has denied all of the Egyptian reports, but the multiplicity of reports indicates that that there may be at least smoke if not fire behind the words.
Egypt’s largest newspaper, Al Ahram, reported that Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman sent aides to Israel and to Syria. Israel has not denied that Dekel left the country but insisted he did not arrive in Egypt, leaving open the possibility that he is discussing the proposed deal elsewhere.
Nevertheless, the Olmert government maintains, "Until Hamas submits a new list of 125 terrorist as we have requested, there will be no negotiations.”
Negotiations earlier this month resulted in a government rejection of a Hamas proposal in wake of a campaign by media, the Shalit family, and dovish academics to free Shalit. They backed his release in exchange for the freeing of hundreds of murderers and terrorists, some of whom were responsible for the deaths of more than 200 Israeli civilians and soldiers. Security official said that freeing them would endanger Israeli security in light of a high rate of previously released terrorists returning to attack Israelis
Reeling from harsh criticism from the same media that promoted the deal and then criticized it, the office of the Prime Minister responded to the recent rumors by stating, “All these publications could be creating unnecessary noise.”
However, it was confirmed that Suleiman’s aide Mohammed Ibrahim held talks in Israel last week.
Meanwhile, Hamas has repeated threats to kidnap more soldiers. “If Israel does not accept the demands to free 1,450 prisoners for captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Al-Qassam [the Kassam militia wing] will take more soldiers," its spokesman said.