Prime Minister Ehud Olmert at 10:00am Sunday will be convening his Security Cabinet, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, to discuss progress in Egyptian-mediated talks with Hamas towards a stable ceasefire.

Olmert‘s office continues to release statements that no deal with be signed and Gaza crossings will not be opened until Gilad Shalit is released by the terror organization. Hamas in the meantime continues to insist the Shalit issue it not in any way related to a ceasefire deal and the release of prisoners is a separate issue.

Olmert, in his last days in office, is maintaining a hard-line policy, insisting there will be no compromise. Hamas on the other hand is exhibiting a hard-line position but leaders of the terror organization are concerned with the possibility of the establishment of a new government under Binyamin Netanyahu, which may adopt a more difficult position vis-à-vis a ceasefire agreement and prisoner release deal.

Mr. Olmert is likely to consult with Netanyahu on Sunday as well since the current opposition leader appears the likely candidate to assemble the next coalition government.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)