Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced on Monday that the National Security Cabinet will convene on Wednesday towards advancing a deal with Hamas that will result in the release of Gilad Shalit.

A vote will be taken to approve a deal that will demand Shalit’s release in a ceasefire deal with Hamas, as well as addressing Israeli concerns vis-à-vis continued weapons smuggling from Sinai into Gaza.

The prime minister made his remarks to a visiting American congressional delegation. The prime minister stated the release of Gilad Shalit remains the key to quiet in southern Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)