Dekel discusses Schalit deal in Egypt

Officials won't say who PM's envoy met; Kuwaiti report: Dekel gave Omar Suleiman new prisoner list.

Ofer Dekel 224 88 (photo credit: Channel 10)
Ofer Dekel 224 88
(photo credit: Channel 10)
Israeli defense officials on Thursday said that senior negotiator Ofer Dekel had met Egyptian officials in Cairo in an effort to achieve movement on a proposed prisoner swap with Hamas. Dekel is the official in charge of efforts to free abducted IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Gaza terrorists two years ago. Hamas wants Israel to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Schalit. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, would not say who Dekel met during his trip to Cairo Wednesday or what was the outcome of the meeting. Earlier Thursday, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported, however, that Dekel gave Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman a list of Palestinian inmates Israel has agreed to free in exchange for Schalit. According to the report, Dekel gave Suleiman the list of names on Wednesday in Cairo and Suleiman was expected to deliver it to the Palestinians later Thursday. Israel denied that report.