Israel to Release 20 Palestinian Women Prisoners in Exchange for Video of Gilad Shalit

Source: MFA

Security Cabinet Communique

The Security Cabinet decided to release 20 Palestinian women security prisoners and detainees, according to the proposal of the team responsible for negotiating the release of Gilad Shalit.

(Communicated by the Prime Minister’s Media Adviser)

The Security Cabinet this morning (Wednesday), 30 September 2009, decided to release 20 Palestinian women security prisoners and detainees, according to the proposal of the team responsible for negotiating the release of Gilad Shalit. According to the mediators’ proposal, Israel will receive updated and unequivocal proof regarding the well-being and status of Gilad Shalit. Proof that he is alive will be delivered to Israel by the mediators in the form of a recently recorded video tape.

Prime Minister Netanyahu commended Haggai Hadas and the negotiating team for their professional work, far from the public eye and said, “It is important that the entire world know that Gilad Shalit is alive and well and that Hamas is responsible for his well-being and fate.”

The Security Cabinet decided to respond to the Egyptian initiative as a confidence-building measure in the framework of the indirect negotiations. All of this is ahead of the decisive stages in the negotiations for Gilad Shalit’s release and on the basis of the Government of Israel’s determination to bring him back home quickly while upholding the State of Israel’s vital interests.

The list of women prisoners and detainees designated for release, as well as information about them and the release process, may be obtained at the Justice Ministry Pardons Department. The list will be posted in the coming hours on the Israel Prison Service website (Hebrew).

A senior source in the Prime Minister’s Bureau reports that negotiating team head Haggai Hadas is in continuous contact with the Shalit family and is updating them on all developments. “The negotiations are still expected to be long and arduous,” the source said, “We will continue to make determined efforts to bring Gilad back home, safe and sound, as quickly as possible.”