Indirect prisoner-swap talks resume under Egyptian mediation

Sunday November 30, 2008 01:12 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Palestinian sources reported on Saturday that a Hamas delegate will be heading to Cairo soon in order to resume the Egyptian mediated indirect prisoner-swap talks between Hamas and Israel.

Israel recently proposed the release of 220 detainees from a list of 450 detainees presented by Hamas. The list of detainees suggested by Hamas includes detainees who are sentenced to very high terms and leaders of resistance groups.

Hamas officials said that the Israeli offer is insufficient while Israel rejected the list presented by Hamas and decided to increase pressures on the Gaza Strip by carrying invasions and intensifying the siege.

Meanwhile, Israeli sources reported that Israel's outgoing, scandal burdened, Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, and his defense minister, Ehud Barak, will practice “exceptional efforts” in order to achieve a prisoner-swap deal with Hamas before the general elections in Israel.

Several days ago, Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, reported that Israel presented to Egypt a list of 220 detainees to be freed under a prisoner-sap deal.

Hamas wants the release of 1400 detainees, including 450 who are serving high terms, and leaders of Palestinian armed groups. Haaretz said that Israel would apparently agree to the number but the conflict here is about the 450 detainees.

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