Palestinian Minister of Detainee, Wasfi Qabha, revealed on Monday
during a meeting with parents of Palestinian detainees, in Bethlehem,
information regarding a prisoners swap deal between Israel and
Palestinian resistance factions holding an Israeli soldier captive.
Qabha said that the deal does not include the abducted ministers and legislators since they should be immediately freed without any preconditions.
Qabha stated that, according to the deal, Israel will release 400 detainees as the fighters hand the captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, to Egypt, after that Israel will release additional 400 detainees. The third stage of the deal will see the release of detainees sentenced to high terms.
He also said that the deal includes releasing children, women, elderly and sick detainees, and will also see the release of Palestinian leaders, including Marwan Barghouthi and Ahmad Sa'adat.
Also, the deal states that Israel should improve the living conditions of the Palestinian detainees.
Israeli Environment Minister, Gideon Ezra, told the Israel Radio on Monday that Israel should consider freeing jailed Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouthi in a prisoner exchange for captured soldier.
Ezra added that if the Palestinian Authority prevents arms smuggling into the Gaza Strip, then he will be in favor of releasing Barghouthi.
