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)