Shalit. Still alive
Reproduction photo
Report: Egypt got Shalit videotape from Hamas
Egyptian weekly: Hamas also gave Cairo handwritten letter to prove IDF captive still alive
Sign of life? Hamas has succumbed to Cairo's demands and handed over a new videotape of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit along with a handwritten letter from him, diplomatic sources told the weekly al-Ahram al-Arabi.
According to the report, the tape was transferred following demands from Cairo, in an effort to prove to Israel that Shalit is still alive. The diplomatic sources also said that former Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, currently serving five consecutive life terms in an Israeli prison, is among the prisoners Hamas wants in exchange for Shalit.
This is the second tape of Shalit, following an audiotape that was transferred a year ago. However, Israeli officials said they were unaware of the reported developments.
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The sources added that Israel is demanding that Egypt and Hamas guarantee that the prisoners, if released, will not renew their terror career.
In the next few days Egyptian mediators plan to hold meetings with both Hamas representatives and Israeli officials in order to draft the final clauses of a deal that would secure Gilad Shalit's release.
The captive soldier's father, Noam Shalit, said Tuesday that efforts to secure his son's release have been ineffective thus far.
"I did not see the effectiveness, determination, and creativity in negotiations…I did not see it when the prime minister assumed it upon itself," Noam Shalit said at a conference on the issue of captives held at Bar-Ilan University.
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday that "the negotiations for Shalit are being finalized, and the solution won't be simple, easy or quick. Difficult decisions will have to be made here. I hope the nation unites now. We will know how to rise even when we are faced with masses of people rejoicing in the streets, after extorting these painful concessions from us."
