BICOM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the Egyptian military leader Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi for the role his country played in negotiating the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Netanyahu called Tantawi on Thursday and said, “you have made great and successful efforts over the past few months. Your assistance warms the hearts of all Israeli citizens.”  According to Egyptian sources, Egypt presented 20 different offers to Israel and Hamas over the last three months before an agreement was reached.

Meanwhile, reports note that the prisoner exchange deal may have improved relations between Fatah and Hamas. Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal spoke to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and informed him of the deal. The two leaders then agreed to meet in the near future to discuss a reconciliation deal. However, behind the scenes there is growing criticism of Hamas for failing to deliver on its promise to bring about the release of leading Palestinian terrorists. Sources in Fatah have also criticised the Islamist group for failing to include jailed Fatah figure Marwan Barghouti in the deal.

Hamas yesterday started releasing the names of Palestinian prisoners due to be released. Around 280 of the prisoners released were serving life sentences and include terrorists who were involved in the planning of major suicide bombings in Israel, and the abduction and killings of IDF soldiers in the past.