The Palestinian Authority said that a "surprising" visit by a German mediator to Cairo for talks over the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit was meant to distract the international community from the hunger strike being staged by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons. PA Prison Affairs Ministry spokesperson Riad al-Ashkar said that there have been no developments in the prisoner-swap deal for Schalit, and that the current visit by a German mediator only undermines the process. A DPA report on Monday said that German mediator Gerhard Konrad went to Cairo to hold talks with defense officials to restart negotiations for Schalit's release.
