Government representative Ofir Dekel was in Cairo again on Wednesday, once again seeking to jumpstart negotiations with Hamas towards the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
 
According to Arab media reports, Dekel submitted a list to Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman, containing the names of terrorists Israel has agreed to release.
 
Hamas has given a list of some 400 names to Israel, with Israel announcing weeks ago it has approved about 70 names on that list. Since that time, following the Regev-Goldwasser prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hizbullah, Hamas has announced it was taking a harder-line towards the talks and will demand the release of other terrorists as well, stating there will be no flexibility.
 
Noam and Aviva Shalit, Gilad’s parents, have accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and his cabinet of abandoning their son’s interests and not doing enough towards reaching a deal with Hamas towards his release.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)