Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya said in Egypt Thursday that the
prisoner swap issue involving Palestinian prisoners and Israeli soldier Gilad
Shalit would be resolved soon, a Palestinian embassy official confirmed to
Xinhua.
According to Khaled Alazaar, Haneya made the statement at Al-Arish airport in
Egypt's northern Sinai on his way to Saudi Arabia for the annual hajj
pilgrimage.
In a speech at Al-Arish, Haneya said the release of Palestinian prisoners in
exchange of Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Palestinian militants from the
Gaza Strip in June, would take place soon.
Haneya, meanwhile, urged the Israeli side to speed up finalizing the deal,
saying "pressure must continue to be exerted on Israel to close this file as
quickly as possible so the Palestinian prisoners and the Israeli soldier could
be freed."
Earlier on Wednesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said in
Israel that Gilad Shalit is still alive, Egypt's Daily Star newspaper reported
Thursday.
Shalit's capture sparked massive Israeli offensives in the Gaza Strip, which
left hundreds of Palestinians dead. Egypt has been mediating the prisoner swap
deal between the two sides.
