Readers of my previous blogs will know how much I hate the negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit being conducted in the public eye. It is my view that these interchanges should be conducted behind closed doors until a breakthrough can be announced to the public. Previous exchange deals have largely succeeded in doing this. For some reason, every step of the discussions for Gilad’s release have been relayed in the press. This may be as a result of the attempts by his parents and supporters to ensure that Gilad’s name is always in the news, thereby ensuring that he will never be forgotten.
Latest developments in the negotiations are that the special “Forum of Seven” ministers of the Israeli government met 5 separate times in 2 days to consider the latest Hamas proposal brought by the German mediator. Late last night, the forum finalised its position and passed this onto the mediator. Although there was no announcement as to the decision of the forum, it was clearly not an easy decision to make. It is speculated that the outcome was a broad acceptance of the deal to release Shalit, but with some conditions attached.
During the course of today, it was reported that the German mediator had reached the Gaza Strip and delivered the response to Hamas. There was even a report that Hamas had confirmed that they received the response. It was later reported that the mediator will only arrive in Gaza tomorrow to deliver the Israeli government’s decision. There was speculation that the delay is due to a late amendment on the part of the Israeli government to its response.
It is likely that the response will need to be relayed to the Hamas leadership in Damascus, and this will take a few days. We all continue to hope and pray that Gilad will finally be delivered safely to Israel and his family within the very near future.
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