Some 980 Palestinian prisoners could be released in Shalit deal

Israel could release 980 Palestinian prisoners in a deal to free captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, according to local media reports.

AFP - Israel could release 980 Palestinian prisoners in a deal to free captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, the popular Ynet news website reported on Sunday.

It quoted Israeli court documents as saying Israel could free 450 prisoners demanded by Hamas and "as part of a unilateral gesture to the Palestinian people, an additional 530 terrorists chosen by Israel."

According to the report, the government informed the Supreme Court of the possible releases after an Israeli group appealed to the court, demanding that Israel provides names of Palestinians to be freed.

The group is opposed to the release of any Palestinian involved in deadly attacks against Israelis.

The government has declined for now to divulge the names of those set to be released.

The Islamist movement Hamas and Israel have been secretive about the expected prisoners' swap.

Egypt has tried for months to broker an exchange before a German mediator joined the talks earlier this year.

Shalit, who holds both Israeli and French nationality, was seized in June 2006 when Gaza militant groups, including Hamas, tunnelled out of the enclave and attacked an Israeli army post, killing two other soldiers.
 

Date created : 2009-11-29