Posted on 03/23/2007 9:15:00 AM PDT by knighthawk
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah said in an interview on Thursday a framework had been agreed with Israel that could secure the release of a captured soldier held by militants in Gaza.
Abbas made the comments ahead of a visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Abbas wants the United States and Israel to lift an economic boycott of the unity government he formed with Hamas Islamists.
Militant groups, including Hamas, seized Corporal Gilad Shalit last June in a cross-border raid from Gaza into southern Israel.
"We agreed recently on a framework with (Israeli Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert to solve the problem of Shalit, in agreement with the Egyptians, and this process is happening quickly," Abbas said in an interview with Israel's Channel One television.
"I hope his release will come quickly ... I believe now it is accepted and everybody is working towards that," he added.
Abbas gave no other details.
"SERIOUS DISCUSSION"
A political leader of Hamas, Osama al-Muzaini, described Abbas's comments as "not as accurate as he said".
"Although there is movement on this issue, we cannot say that things have reached the final stage yet," he told Reuters. "There are still issues that need to be agreed upon."
Abbas has made similar comments in the past.
Israel has said it is ready to free some of the 11,000 Palestinian prisoners in its jails for Shalit, but it remains unclear how much progress was being made in talks through Egyptian mediators.
Hamas is demanding the release of some 1,400 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit.
Abbas told Channel One there was a "serious discussion" with all the parties involved, including the kidnappers.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni declined to comment on Abbas's remarks about Shalit.
Olmert has been under pressure from Israelis to secure Shalit's release as well as the release of two other Israeli soldiers kidnapped by Hezbollah last year in a cross border raid into northern Israel, which triggered Israel's inconclusive war in Lebanon with the guerrilla group.
The string of perceived setbacks has caused Olmert's popularity to plummet. One survey this month found that just 3 percent of Israelis would vote to re-elect him if a ballot were held now.
Olmert was heckled on Thursday at an event by an Israeli who demanded the government free the three soldiers.
Olmert said in response: "They are not in a place where Israel can press a button and they appear smiling and happy."
Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas formed a unity government on Saturday. Abbas is hoping to garner support for the government and the release of Shalit would boost that effort.
(Additional reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza)
Ping
Olmert should tell Abbas to hand over the soldiers NOW or suffer the consequences.
A deal has been in the works forever by the time they get him back he's going to be dying from old age.
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