When You've Got a Tough Negotiation Coming Up . . .
think about the challenges presented by this one
Text from Robert Berger's Voice of America report Egypt Steps up Mediation for Israeli-Palestinian Prisoner Swap
The leader of the Palestinians' ruling Islamic militant group, Hamas, is meeting Egyptian mediators in Cairo to discuss a possible prisoner swap with Israel.
The leader, Khaled Mashaal, is pushing for the release of 1,400 Palestinian prisoners, in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Hamas gunmen kidnapped the 19-year-old corporal at an army base on the Gaza border five months ago.
Mashaal blames Israel for the failure to achieve a breakthrough during months of behind-the-scenes negotiations. But, according to Arab media reports, Egypt is trying to get Mashaal to soften his demands.
(to read the remainder of this article, go to the Voice of America News website by clicking here)
For another source on the same story click here. For an analysis of prior Israeli-Arab prisoner exchanges, click here. For the Guardian's Special Report on Israel and the Middle East, click here.
We will continue to follow these negotiations, so look for updates here.
