Talks aim to secure release of Israeli soldiers in 'swap'

MIDDLE EAST: Mediated discussions involving Hamas, Hizbullah and Israel have been proceeding in parallel - with the aim of securing the release of three Israeli soldiers, captured last summer by Palestinian and Lebanese fighters, in exchange for Arab prisoners held by Israel.

Hamas representatives left Cairo yesterday after two days of talks with Egyptian officials on a prisoner exchange and the formation of a Palestinian national unity government.

The delegation, headed by Imad al-Alami, the group's delegate in Damascus, met Egyptian intelligence chief Oman Suleiman, who has been trying to secure an agreement on prisoners for the past three months.

Hamas is demanding 1,000 Palestinian detainees, including long-term prisoners, women and minors, as the price of freeing Gilad Shalit, seized by Palestinian guerrillas on June 25th on the Gaza border. Hamas holds that once Cpl Shalit is released to a third party, Israel must free a substantial number of the 9,000 Palestinians in Israeli jails while the rest could be released later.

After a meeting with Egyptian foreign minister Ahmad Abu Gheit, Israeli Arab legislator Ahmad Tibi said substantial differences remain between Hamas and Israel on terms for a prisoner swap, although there was a good chance of reaching a deal soon. The head of Hamas's politburo, Khaled Mishaal, plans to travel to Cairo once an agreement is near.

But a Hamas spokesman warned that Israel's ongoing military action in Gaza could have a "negative influence" on the negotiations.

This is unlikely. Hamas seeks to conclude this deal to clear the way for a "hudna", a 10-year ceasefire during which Palestinians and Israelis would have a quiet period to negotiate a permanent settlement.

Hamas has dispatched spokesmen to European capitals to promote this offer and the Washington Post yesterday carried an article on the subject by the prime minister Ismail Haniyeh's senior political adviser, Ahmad Yusif. Mr Haniyeh is expected to discuss a "hudna" during a tour of regional capitals later this month.

Meanwhile Hizbullah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah announced that UN-sponsored talks on a prisoner exchange between his organisation and Israel are taking place.

"They are serious negotiations . . . We have reached the stage of exchanging ideas, or more accurately, exchanging conditions."

This was the first indication that negotiations are in train. It is widely assumed that the go-between is a German intelligence team which concluded a deal in 2004 for the hand-over of the bodies of three Israeli servicemen and an Israeli businessman seized by Hizbullah in 2000 in exchange for Lebanese and Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

A major obstacle is Hizbullah's demand for the release of Samir Kuntar, who killed two Israelis during a 1979 raid into northern Israel.