Israel to submit to Hamas terms on prisoner release

Olmert's supposed deadline to Hamas is in fact that a deadline for himself and the Israeli establishment, as we argued yesterday. This explains the postponement by Olmert of the special cabinet meeting that was to decide on the prisoner exchange deal.

Shortly after midnight, outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert postponed for 24 hours a special cabinet session on abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, in order to give negotiators an extra day in Cairo to finalize a deal for his release.

Shin Bet Chief Yuval Diskin and special negotiator Ofer Dekel on Sunday decided to remain in Cairo for extra negotiations.

The two were expected to leave Egypt late Sunday with a finalized agreement following their weekend talks with the Egyptian negotiators mediating with Hamas for Shalit's release. It is not clear when they will return.

A deal does seem likely, but Hamas's terms not Israel.

Hamas's miltary chief, who the Israelis have been trying to murder for some time, is now in Cairo heading up the final leg of the negotiations.

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