Beirut media reports that Damascus-based Hamas politburo leader Khaled Meshal has traveled to meet with Hizbullah leader Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah. According to the Hizbullah-affiliated al-Manar Television, they discussed a number of issues, including the stalled efforts towards closing a prisoner exchange deal with Israel surrounding Hamas hostage IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

A Hamas official in London over the weekend announced the talks are still ongoing, and the deal which would result in Shalit’s return in exchange for some 1,000 terrorists may still be actualized, adding there have not been any deadlines set in place. He blamed Israel for the delays, absolving Hamas of any responsibility in the failure of the sides to reach agreement.

Regarding reports that the German mediator who has been shuttling between Jerusalem, Gaza and meeting with other Arab leaders has called it quits, the Hamas statement rejected the accuracy of such reports, stating the mediator is continuing his efforts towards closing a deal.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)