Report: Shalit deal on verge of realization
Saudi media reports prisoner exchange deal meant to secure return of kidnapped IDF soldier may take place as early as November
Attila Somfalvi
Is the Shalit deal within grasp? Saudi Arabia’s Al-Arabiya TV reported Tuesday that Egypt has made a breakthrough in its mediation of a deal meant to secure the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, and that such an exchange may take place as early as November.
An Izraeli official confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened his cabinet to discuss the prisoner exchange deal that would bring the Hamas-held soldier back home.
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The prisoner swap would see Shalit exchanged for some 1,000 Palestinian militants held by Izrael.
„The exchange deal of Palestinian prisoners for Shalit (will be) implemented at the beginning of this November, with Egyptian mediation,” the television channel said, citing unnamed sources. It did not give further details.
According to Reuters, a Hamas official confirmed that „Izrael and Hamas have agreed to a prisoner swap deal.”
Gaza sources told Reuters that the swap may even take place „as soon as in the coming days.”
Noam Shalit, Gilad’s father, confirmed that the family was notified that cabinet was to discuss a prisoner exchange deal. He gave no further details.
The cabinet is expected to vote on the deal later Tuesday night.
Elior Levy, Ahiya Raved, AP and Reuters contributed to this report
