Israeli negotiator continues talks in Egypt on prisoner exchange deal

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's personal envoy overseeing kidnapped soldiers, Ofer Dekel, will meet in Cairo today with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. Dekel is expected to present to Suleiman a new proposal by Israel regarding a deal involving the release of the captured IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Dekel will tell Suleiman that Israel expects Hamas to be more flexible over the list of prisoners it wants freed in exchange for Shalit. Suleiman will meet with Hamas next week to discuss the matter. "We expect both delegations to deliberate this matter until they achieve a result, preferably without each party constantly stepping out for consultations," an Egyptian official said. The Egyptian source said that Hamas realises Egypt aims for the meeting are to conclude with a positive outcome and therefore Israel should expect some flexibility from the Hamas side. A later stage of the negotiations will include Israeli and Hamas representatives staying at the same location with an Egyptian mediator working between the two parties separately dealing with proposals and counter-proposals. 

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