Report: "Israel" Reneging on Shalit Agreements
Source: Al-Manar TV, 14-07-2008
Hamas' delegation to Cairo is under the impression that ‘Israel' has reneged on all of the understandings reached over the past few months regarding a prisoner exchange deal that will include the release of ‘Israeli' occupation soldier Gilad Shalit, according to the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.
The newspaper quoted a Palestinian source as saying Monday that Egyptian mediator Omar Suleiman informed Hamas representatives last week that ‘Israel' is refusing to release detainees who were sentenced to lengthy prison terms and insists on not freeing those convicted of killing soldiers or settlers.
According to the report, ‘Israel' and Hamas previously had agreed that during the first stage of the prisoner swap 350 Palestinian detainees will be released in exchange for Shalit's transfer to Egyptian custody. In the second phase an additional 100 detainees will be freed upon the soldier's arrival in occupied territories, and 500 more Palestinians will be returned two months after Shalit's release.
The Palestinian source said ‘Israel' has also backed down from its agreement to release all of the female Palestinian detainees.
The source was quoted by Al-Awsat as saying that Hamas and Egypt fear ‘Israel' toughened its stance in order to "lower Hamas' expectations" ahead of the expected negotiations in Cairo.
However, the source said, Hamas and Egypt believe ‘Israel' will eventfully agree to release all of the detainees the Islamic resistance group is demanding in exchange for Shalit.
Last week a Palestinian source told the newspaper that the expected talks between the factions holding Shalit captive and Israeli officials "will be held behind closed doors so the sides can finally resolve the issue."
Shalit was captured during a cross border raid on an ‘Israeli' occupation army base near Gaza on June 25, 2006.
Hamas' delegation to Cairo is under the impression that ‘Israel' has reneged on all of the understandings reached over the past few months regarding a prisoner exchange deal that will include the release of ‘Israeli' occupation soldier Gilad Shalit, according to the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al-Sharq Al-Awsat.
The newspaper quoted a Palestinian source as saying Monday that Egyptian mediator Omar Suleiman informed Hamas representatives last week that ‘Israel' is refusing to release detainees who were sentenced to lengthy prison terms and insists on not freeing those convicted of killing soldiers or settlers.
According to the report, ‘Israel' and Hamas previously had agreed that during the first stage of the prisoner swap 350 Palestinian detainees will be released in exchange for Shalit's transfer to Egyptian custody. In the second phase an additional 100 detainees will be freed upon the soldier's arrival in occupied territories, and 500 more Palestinians will be returned two months after Shalit's release.
The Palestinian source said ‘Israel' has also backed down from its agreement to release all of the female Palestinian detainees.
The source was quoted by Al-Awsat as saying that Hamas and Egypt fear ‘Israel' toughened its stance in order to "lower Hamas' expectations" ahead of the expected negotiations in Cairo.
However, the source said, Hamas and Egypt believe ‘Israel' will eventfully agree to release all of the detainees the Islamic resistance group is demanding in exchange for Shalit.
Last week a Palestinian source told the newspaper that the expected talks between the factions holding Shalit captive and Israeli officials "will be held behind closed doors so the sides can finally resolve the issue."
Shalit was captured during a cross border raid on an ‘Israeli' occupation army base near Gaza on June 25, 2006.
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