Continuing talks in Cairo, Egyptian officials are expressing confidence that a ceasefire agreement will be in place in a matter of days.

According to unofficial reports from Egypt, talks are moving ahead towards closing a deal on all the major issues including a cessation in hostilities, the release of Gilad Shalit and terrorists imprisoned in Israel, the opening of Gaza crossings and talks towards unity between Hamas and Fatah.

Officials are hoping that senior Hamas official Muhmad a-Zahar will return from Damascus on Monday with a willingness to wrap up an agreement for an 18-month ceasefire deal with Israel.

Despite the headlines and media attention given to the Egyptian efforts, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is calling on the public to lower expectations. He called the widespread reports “exaggerated, baseless and damaging”.

Somewhat contradicting the prime minister, Minister of Pensioner Affairs Rafi Eitan, a former director of the Mossad Intelligence Agency, released a statement that there is reason to believe that the matter of Gilad Shalit will be resolved in the current administration.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)