THE ISRAELI cabinet will meet in a special session this morning to discuss a possible prisoner swap involving the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Mr Shalit has been in Palestinian captivity for 995 days after being seized by militants from Gaza in a daring cross-border raid in June 2006.
Hamas released a list of 450 detainees it wants Israel to release in return for the soldier.
The government of Ehud Olmert has been negotiating with Hamas via Egyptian mediators and Mr Olmert badly wanted to conclude a prisoner swap before he steps down from office.
Israel reportedly agreed to release almost all the 450 prisoners, who include dozens responsible for deadly terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians.
The sticking point is Israel’s insistence that some of the most infamous detainees be sent to exile in Gaza or abroad, rather than being allowed to return to their West Bank homes.
Over the weekend Mr Olmert sent two senior envoys to Cairo in a last ditch effort to clinch a deal, although Israeli sources indicated last night that there was no dramatic breakthrough during yesterday’s discussions.
Israeli ministers will vote this morning to endorse a prisoner swap or will be briefed on the failure to reach a deal.
In Cairo, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said he considered the arrival of the negotiators to be bargaining tactics on the part of Israel. “We have not received anything new,” he said. “We will not change our position.”
Prime minister designate Benjamin Netanyahu, who takes a hardline position on Hamas, was updated on the last-minute push to seal an agreement.
Outgoing interior minister Meir Sheetrit warned that Hamas may be missing their last chance for a deal. “Today the issue will be decided for better or for worse,” he said. “This government is ready to approve a deal, but if the government is replaced, there is no telling what will be.” Mr Shalit’s parents have spent the last week at a protest camp opposite the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem, attracting significant support from the Israeli public.
Israel has a conscript army and the country has paid a very high price in previous prisoner swaps to return troops captured by militant organisations.
Meanwhile, uncertainty remained over the make-up of the future Israeli government. Mr Netanyahu, the head of the right-wing Likud, was trying to conclude coalition agreements with five other right-wing and religious parties before a deadline later this week.
However, parallel contacts have resumed with the centrist Kadima led by foreign minister Tzipi Livni, who initially rejected overtures from Mr Netanyahu to join his coalition. Under consideration now is an “uneven rotation” agreement that would see Mr Netanyahu serving as prime minister for three years followed by Ms Livni, although chances for an agreement were remote.
Last night two Israelis driving in the West Bank were shot and killed in what security forces believed was an attack by Palestinian militants.