Some speculate that an announcement regarding a prisoner exchange deal for the release of Gilad Shalit may follow Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu�s visit to Cairo, where he is meeting with senior state officials. Generally, such a meeting is not carried out by the prime minister himself, but his ministers and emissaries.

According to the London-based Arabic al-Shark al-Awsat newspaper on Saturday, Netanyahu and President Mubarak are expected to make a joint dramatic announcement following their meeting.

Speaking with correspondents from Yisrael HaYom, Noam Shalit, Gilad�s father, declined comment, opting not to respond to yet another Arab media report regarding a deal surrounding his son�s release.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)