Hopes Raised For Gilad's Release
Hopes were heightened this week that kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit could soon return home.
Reports from Cairo claim that members of the Palestinian group Hamas, which has held the 23-year-old for the last three-and-a-half years, are close to agreeing a a prisoner swap for the Israeli.
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Israel has attempted to work out an agreement with Hamas for more than three years which would see up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released.
This week it was reported in the Israeli media that negotiations, through a German mediator, were reaching a critical point.
It was then claimed on Wednesday that a number of the names on the list of prisoners Hamas wanted released were proving unacceptable to the Israelis. Among them is believed to be jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti.
During the past week Shalit's father Noam has met with various Israeli officials including chief negotiator Hagai Hadas and cabinet members, prompting speculation that a deal was taking shape.
Israeli Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, who met with Noam on Wednesday, said: "There is nothing more important than saving a boy like this.
"But, on the other hand, it should not cause others to be in trouble."
He was referring to concerns many Israelis have had over the nature of the crimes committed by some of the terrorists who could be released in return for Shalit.
Noam appeared satisfied with the "moral support" he received from the rabbi. "We understood from him that he will support the government's decision," he added.
Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi stressed his hope for Shalit's release, while remaining tight-lipped on any specifics.
"I hope we see Gilad Shalit home soon, along with all other MIAs," Ashkenazi said on Tuesday during a tour of Sderot, the southern Israeli town which has born the brunt of rocket attacks launched by Hamas and Islamic Jihad from the Gaza Strip in recent years.
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