CAIRO, Egypt–Hamas may soon agree to release the abducted Israel soldier Gilad Shalit. Israel’s President Shimon Peres told reporters in Cairo that progress had been made toward a prisoner swap with Hamas. “There are negotiations between the two sides. I do not think that I need to elaborate. We all know there is progress. I hope that it will lead to a positive conclusion,” Peres said. Shalit was abducted on Israeli territory in June 2006 by Hamas operatives.
The news channel ‘al-Arabiya’ quoted senior Hamas sources as saying a deal could be sealed within days, possibly in time for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. According to a ‘Fox News’ report, Israel has offered to release 1,000 prisoners – including 450 requested by Hamas and several who have been convicted of murder – in exchange for Shalit. Israel had earlier rejected 70 names submitted by Hamas, the report said.