Israeli sources reported that Ahmad Yousef, a senior political advisor
to the Palestinian Prime Minister, Ismail Haniyya, said on Saturday
that Israel agreed to release Palestinian detainees, including top
Hamas members, in exchange for the release of the abducted Israeli
soldier Gilad Shalit.
According to Israeli media reports, Yousef stated that Israel agreed to release Palestinian detainees, including senior Hamas activists and other Arab detainees.
Yousef added that this step is significant towards ending the current crisis, and that after the Muslim feast, Eid Al Fitir, Qatar will present an updated version of a cease-fire between the rival Fateh and Hamas parties.
Israeli online daily, Haaretz, reported that Yousef said that Hamas will accept the new Qatar initiative after a clause calling to the recognition of a two-state solution, thus recognizing Israel, was changed.
Yousef added that leaders of Fateh and Hamas might hold a meeting in Egypt over the coming weekend.
