The London-based Al-Shark Al-Awsat newspaper quoting “senior military sources” reports that talk of a imminent deal for the release of Gilad Shalit are simply untrue, stating such a deal is months away based on current realities.

The report does confirm positive developments, citing trips to Damascus by senior Hamas leaders and the Cairo visit of Khaled Meshal, viewed as the party’s politburo leader, who is based in Damascus. Cairo is spearheading mediated talks between Israel and Hamas, working in tandem with German negotiators.

According to the newspaper report, Hamas is responsible for the false media reports, part of the terror organization’s propaganda campaign against the Israeli public.

A report appearing in the German Dir Spiegel weekly indicates Berlin has set the beginning of Sept. for a deadline for a Hamas response to a proposed deal in which 450 terrorists would be released by Israel in phase one of a deal.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)