What's happening with the Shalit deal?, ctd.

Gregg Carlstrom | July 10, 2009 11:29 AM | 0 | recommend (0) |   |      

Al-Jazeera tries to figure out (عربي) why Hamas is being coy about Gilad Shalit's condition. I can't find an English translation, but the article basically suggests the public statements are a feint -- that there's real behind-the-scenes progress on freeing Shalit. It cites a few "security sources" who say Israel is getting ready to release a large number of Palestinian prisoners (especially women) from its prisoners.

That would align with the rumors last month that Hamas was preparing to release Shalit in a massive prisoner swap -- and it would suggest a deal really is imminent.

For updates throughout the day, follow us on Twitter, Facebook or RSS!

Categories: Diplomacy, Egypt, Israel & Palestine, Regional News

Tags: Al-Jazeera, Gilad Shalit, Hamas

No Comments

Post a Comment

Report: Shalit deal to be announced tomorrow

Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reports that Benjamin Netanyahu and Hosni Mubarak will announce a deal tomorrow that frees Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Israel releasing Hamas MP

Israel is releasing Abdul Aziz Dweik, the speaker of the Palestinian parliament and a Hamas member; he was arrested shortly after Gilad Shalit was captured in 2006.

B'Tselem: Settlements occupy 42 percent of West Bank

Ben-Eliezer makes "secret trip" to Turkey: Israeli TV

CENTCOM talking sense on Hamas and Hizballah

Al-Akhbar: Our weekly brief

Peace Processing

Talking about direct talks: Netanyahu returns to the White House

Gregg Carlstrom | July 6, 2010 4:00 AM | 0 | recommend (0)
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivering a statement in Jerusalem on July 1, 2010. (Photo: AFP)
US president Barack Obama will use a White House meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to push for an extended West Bank settlement freeze. If Netanyahu doesn't offer one - and the domestic politics are quite difficult for him - it's hard to see any possibility of direct talks with the Palestinian Authority later this year.

The Afghan Surge

Obama's southern strategy

Gregg Carlstrom | June 24, 2010 6:09 AM | 1 | recommend (0)
Gen. David Petraeus testifying on Capitol Hill. (Photo: Reuters)
The president's decision to nominate Gen. David Petraeus as the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan won't mean a major change in strategy. But there are mounting reasons for pessimism about current policy, particularly the relentless focus on southern Afghanistan. The deployment of tens of thousands of additional troops to Kandahar and Helmand serves few NATO objectives.

Freedom Flotilla Killings

Anticlimax: How much did the flotilla raid really change regional politics?

Gregg Carlstrom | June 17, 2010 7:35 AM | 4 | recommend (2)
A demonstration in London against the Israeli attack on the Gaza-bound flotilla. (Photo: AFP)
It has accelerated Israel's isolation from several of its neighbors and allies; it has sharpened divisions within Turkish domestic politics; it has deepened perceptions that the Obama administration as too close to Israel. And it seems to have had a remarkably minor impact on Palestinian domestic politics.

Bloggers

The "MSM"