Quoting Egyptian sources, the London-based Arabic-language al-Hayat newspaper reports there is still hope for a prisoner release deal that will result in Gilad Shalit being released after 1,000 days in Hamas captivity. The reports speaks of �critical decisions� that are to be made that may close the deal in the final hours of the Olmert administration, especially now, since Premier-designate Binyamin Netanyahu is requesting an additional two weeks to form a government, giving the current government additional time.

A major rally will be held on Saturday in Rabin Square marking 1,000 days of captivity, at which time Gilad�s parents, Noam and Aviva Shalit will fold up their vigil tent in Jerusalem and return home to Mitzpei Hila.

In a last ditch effort which many are calling too little too late, the government has appointed a ministerial committee which will recommend to the cabinet a list of privileges currently given to terrorists imprisoned in Israel that will be discontinued in an effort to pressure the terror organization into agreeing to a deal to release Shalit.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)