Israel Matzav

YNet: Israel agreed to abductors' demands

YNet is reporting that Israel has agreed to a deal in which it will pull its forces out of Gaza, end targeted killings and release Palestinian ministers, parliament members and 'hundreds' of Palestinian prisoners, in return for Hamas releasing Gilad Shalit to a third country (probably Egypt - France refused) and agreeing to stop the Kassam fire.

The report is based on a report in London-based Arabic newspaper al-Hayat.

Meanwhile, 'Palestinian sources' report that 'moderate Palestinian President' Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen has decided to send member of the PLO Executive Committee, Taysir Khaled and head of the diplomatic committee at the National Palestinian Assembly, Abdullah Hurani to Damascus to hold talks with head of Hamas' politburo Khaled Mashaal, Hamas' leadership and Syrian officials, on Shalit's kidnapping.

According to reports, the 'Palestinians' have formed a committee compiled of representatives from the 'president's' office, the 'Palestinian government', the 'Palestinian' factions and the private sector, to formulate a unified stance regarding the issues that are currently the subject of debate.

Obviously (to those who are regular readers), I think this is a bad deal....

Update 10:38 AM

Arutz Sheva also has the Al-Hayat report, but does not characterize it as essentially a done deal the way YNet does.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:31 AM