Hamas representatives are expected to travel to Cairo on Tuesday for the resumption of talks with Israel towards the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. The talks should have taken place weeks ago, but Hamas has been flexing its muscle, holding Israel at bay, upping the price for the soldier’s release. Hamas officials insist they are not planning to back down from their current demand, which would compel Israel to release some 1,000 terrorists, including the list of 350 submitted by Hamas.

To date, Israel has only agreed to 70 of the 350 names, eliciting a Hamas response that the list is not open for discussion. Some weeks ago, Hamas officials stated that if need be, they will hold Shalit for 20 years until Israel agrees to its demands. The list includes many terrorists imprisoned for their part in the deaths of Israelis.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has met with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Minister Chaim Ramon to discuss a more flexible approach to the negotiations.

Officials are aware that the previous Regev-Goldwasser deal which Israel paid for dearly, did not pass the cabinet with ease, and with the current opposition by the heads of the Mossad and ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet), some analysts believe a deal towards obtaining Shalit’s release will not be an easy sale. Some of the experts, including ISA Chief Yuval Diskin are openly critical of the prime minister, who did not heed his warning, moving ahead with the Hamas ceasefire in Gaza without securing a deal for Shalit’s release first.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)