RAMALLAH // In spite of repeated denials, reports that Hamas and Israel are close to agreeing a prisoner exchange deal continue unabated.
According to Israeli media reports, Khaled Meshaal, the Hamas leader-in-exile, was en route yesterday to Cairo for discussions on how to finalise an exchange deal that would see at least 450 Palestinian prisoners released in stages in return for the release of Cpl Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured three years ago along the border with Gaza.
Mr Meshaal is due to meet Egyptian officials as well as a delegation from Gaza during his visit. Hamas yesterday said that Mr Meshaal was in Cairo for talks on how to further Palestinian unity discussions, and a spokesman denied that a prisoner exchange deal was on the agenda.
"There are several reasons for the visit," said Ayman Taha, the spokesman. "The main one is the internal dialogue. A prisoner exchange deal will only be discussed if it happens to come up in talks." Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president and Fatah leader, was also in Cairo yesterday for talks with the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, but it was not clear whether there was a connection between the visits of the two rivals, Mr Abbas and Mr Mashaal.
Mr Abbas left before Mr Mashaal arrived, but he did say the topic of reconciliation talks came up during his discussions with Mr Mubarak. He also reiterated his stance that a total settlement freeze was a condition for restarting talks with the Israelis.
Speculation about a prisoner exchange deal picked up pace last week when it was revealed that Germany was involved in mediation efforts along with Egypt. Germany has mediated prisoner exchange deals involving Israel before, the latest in 2006 between Israel and Hizbollah, the Lebanese Shiite group.
Cairo has been trying to mediate the release of Cpl Shalit since 2007 but with no luck. Hamas has previously asked for a non-regional mediator in a bid to ensure that Israel lives up to its side of any bargain.
According to a report last week in Der Spiegel, a German magazine, Israel has already agreed to a deal in which it would release 450 Palestinian prisoners, including some convicted of killing Israelis. Hamas would then allow Cpl Shalit to travel to Cairo, after which Israel would release more prisoners.
Some of those released, according to the report, would be exiled, a sticking point in previous negotiations. Hamas has yet to respond to the proposal.
German involvement would certainly take negotiations to another level, and Mr Taha acknowledged that German mediation efforts were "extremely serious". Nevertheless, he said, negotiations were "only at the beginning".
Also last week, Israel released nine Hamas ex-parliamentarians imprisoned since 2006. While the nine legislators had served their full 40-month sentences, the release could be seen as a first confidence-building measure.
On the other hand, it seems improbable that Hamas would agree to a deal in the absence of a separate agreement on the issue of opening crossings into Gaza. While Israel's siege on the impoverished Gaza Strip has somewhat eased in recent weeks, Israel still bars much-needed construction materials from entering Gaza.
The two-year Israeli siege has had a dramatic impact on Gaza's economy. Some 95 per cent of local industries have had to shut down, while repair work to Gaza's electricity power plant and debilitated sewage system remains undone. In addition, the absence of construction materials means that any reconstruction of Gaza after Israel's devastating onslaught in January cannot begin.
Mr Taha accepted that a prisoner exchange deal with Israel could have a positive impact on the internal Palestinian dialogue. Nevertheless, he said, without an opening of the crossings, "there would be no exchange deal".
okarmi@thenational.ae
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
SPECS
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UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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AT%20A%20GLANCE
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UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
The five pillars of Islam
Five expert hiking tips
- Always check the weather forecast before setting off
- Make sure you have plenty of water
- Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
- Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
- Take your litter home with you
Kill%20
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Company%20Profile
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Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
Power: 154bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option
Price: From Dh79,600
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The%20Iron%20Claw
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Sean%20Durkin%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Zac%20Efron%2C%20Jeremy%20Allen%20White%2C%20Harris%20Dickinson%2C%20Maura%20Tierney%2C%20Holt%20McCallany%2C%20Lily%20James%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4-litre%20V8%20twin-turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E630hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E850Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20Tiptronic%20automatic%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh599%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The 12 breakaway clubs
England
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur
Italy
AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus
Spain
Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Real Madrid
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
Starring: Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jenny Ortega
Director: Tim Burton
Rating: 3/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlmouneer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dr%20Noha%20Khater%20and%20Rania%20Kadry%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EEgypt%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E120%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%2C%20with%20support%20from%20Insead%20and%20Egyptian%20government%2C%20seed%20round%20of%20%3Cbr%3E%243.6%20million%20led%20by%20Global%20Ventures%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week