Israeli Noam Schalit walks in front
of a picture of his captured son
The deadline for a deal releasing 1000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli Corporal Gilad Schalit passed uneventfully on Sunday. However, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert extended the deadline 24 hours. Israeli negotiators returned to Jerusalem late Monday night and headed immediately for a closed door meeting with PM Olmert. Rumors have stated that a deal has been reached, and these reports have been strengthened by the presence of Hamas military leader Ahmed Al-Jaabari in Cairo. Al-Jaabari has been responsible for Cpl. Schalit since his capture over two years ago and is rarely seen in public.
The specifics of the deal remain unclear, but the Associated Press reported over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners would be released by Israel in return for Schalit. The details of which prisoners are to be released have not been leaked, though several high-profile prisoners are expected. The battle has raged over which prisoners would be released and where they would be released. Israel has fought to release the prisoners outside Palestinian territory, in Syria, while Hamas has argued they must be freed in Gaza and the West Bank. Additionally, the potential deal has evoked a fiery debate in Israel as to how many prisoners are just for the return of one, Cpl. Gilad Schalit.
A successful prisoner exchange would serve as a huge victory in the waning days of Olmert’s premiership and would set the stage for further talks of a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. There is much speculation in the media that Israel will loosen its siege upon Gaza in response to a return of Schalit, however on the Palestinian side there is suspicion as to whether this will be the case. The prisoner exchange would also function as a victory for Hamas, bettering their support among the Palestinian people, but it remains to be seen if they will achieve all their demands for prisoners.
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of a picture of his captured son
The deadline for a deal releasing 1000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Israeli Corporal Gilad Schalit passed uneventfully on Sunday. However, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert extended the deadline 24 hours. Israeli negotiators returned to Jerusalem late Monday night and headed immediately for a closed door meeting with PM Olmert. Rumors have stated that a deal has been reached, and these reports have been strengthened by the presence of Hamas military leader Ahmed Al-Jaabari in Cairo. Al-Jaabari has been responsible for Cpl. Schalit since his capture over two years ago and is rarely seen in public.
The specifics of the deal remain unclear, but the Associated Press reported over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners would be released by Israel in return for Schalit. The details of which prisoners are to be released have not been leaked, though several high-profile prisoners are expected. The battle has raged over which prisoners would be released and where they would be released. Israel has fought to release the prisoners outside Palestinian territory, in Syria, while Hamas has argued they must be freed in Gaza and the West Bank. Additionally, the potential deal has evoked a fiery debate in Israel as to how many prisoners are just for the return of one, Cpl. Gilad Schalit.
A successful prisoner exchange would serve as a huge victory in the waning days of Olmert’s premiership and would set the stage for further talks of a long-term ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. There is much speculation in the media that Israel will loosen its siege upon Gaza in response to a return of Schalit, however on the Palestinian side there is suspicion as to whether this will be the case. The prisoner exchange would also function as a victory for Hamas, bettering their support among the Palestinian people, but it remains to be seen if they will achieve all their demands for prisoners.
