Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in the coming days is expected to announce his selection to replace Ofir Dekel, the outgoing representative of the prime minister on matters pertaining to captive soldiers, primarily Gilad Shalit.

Names being considered included Colonel Lior Lotan [a former General Staff hostage negotiator and today affiliated with the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center] and attorney David Shomron [who is a relative of the prime minister as well as the Netanyahu Family’s legal counsel].

Official sources admit that since he fell into captivity in June 2006, no one has seen Shalit and Israel does not have confirmed reports regarding the soldier’s condition. The last sign of life was a letter received about nine months ago.

Sources report that Israel in the past already agreed that the first time a representative of an international agency will actual be permitted to see Gilad is after Israel signs a prisoner release agreement.

According to reports release by official sources, the negotiations to free Shalit will resume on 12 Iyar in Egypt, under the same formula that existed during the Olmert administration, with Egypt mediating between Hamas and Israel.

Hamas continues to insist there will be no compromise and until Israel agrees to release all of the 450 names appearing on its list, a deal to release Shalit will not be signed. When talks collapsed during the final days of the previous administration, senior Hamas officials stated “we have time even if it takes 20 years. There will be no compromise”.

Israel has demanded that Hamas replace 125 names, terrorists serving sentences for the most heinous acts, those who Israel is unwilling to release.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)