Crossposted at The Progressive Zionist
Breaking... Both Haaretz and Al-Arabiya are reporting that are reporting adeal reached between Hamas and the Israeli Government for the release of Gilad Shalit.
I AM NOW ASKING THAT WE HAVE A POLITE AND SUBSTANTIVE DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE BEING REPORTED IN AL-ARABIYA AND HAARETZ
Thank you,
volleyboy1
According to Haaretz:
How it happened / The breakthrough that led to the Shalit:
David Meidan, the top Israeli official in charge of Shalit talks, has been spending the last few days in Cairo, contemporaneously with senior officials in Hamas' military wing. Both sides agreed to show flexibility one last time in order to seal the deal.
On Sunday, Netanyahu convened an eight-hour Forum of Eight meeting which lasted until 4 A.M., a meeting the very existence of which was placed under gag order. Ministers who attended the meeting refused to reveal any of the issues discussed.
On Monday, the diplomatic-security cabinet was assembled to discuss the details of a possible Shalit prisoner exchange deal.
Despite all of those meetings, Netanyahu insisted on the deal being approved in the widest cabinet forum possible. At 6 P.M. Tuesday, ministers received a message informing them of an emergency meeting.
Some of the ministers were not even informed as to the subject of the meeting, with Netanyahu personally calling others to update them and ask for their support as the deal comes to be approved by the government.
and from the folks who broke the story at Al-Arabiya
Israel has agreed a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas to secure the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who will be “coming home” in a few days, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.
“We have concluded arduous negotiations with Hamas to release Gilad Shalit. He will be coming home in the next few days,” the prime minister said in a nationally televised address.
Shortly after the announcement tens of thousands of people flooded into the streets of northern Gaza to celebrate the deal that will see Palestinian detainees freed in exchange for Shalit.
In a statement, Hamas said tens of thousands of people were taking part in celebratory rallies after a deal that is expected to see hundreds of Palestinians released in exchange for the captured Israeli soldier.
Again I ask that we please keep this discussion substantive and meaningful.
Thanks...
ADDED: Assaf has a diary with additional information please check out his diary and some of his sources as well.