Ministerial Meeting in Israel on a possible prisoner exchange

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Monday morning his chief ministers to decide on a possible prisoner exchange with Hamas militants, against the soldier Gilad Schalit.
The prime minister and ministers have met three times Sunday and also Monday morning. The Army Radio said Israel has a new meeting was scheduled in the afternoon. The question of an exchange dividing the seven officials, Mr. Netanyahu could submit the issue to a vote of his cabinet in full force.

The Franco-Israeli soldier, 23, was detained for over three years in the Gaza Strip by militants close to Hamas. If approved, the prisoner exchange would be within 48 hours to allow the objectors to present their legal objections.

A tent was erected outside the official residence of Prime Minister urging the Government to conclude an agreement. Dozens of protesters were present.

The parents of Gilad Schalid met Benjamin Netanyahu after the ministerial meeting. No evidence has filtered through the discussions. Before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister, Aviva Schalit pleaded Radio IDF for a decision in the day. She hoped that the ministers "understand that their vote will mean either a death sentence for Gilad, a release."

Exchanges of prisoners are controversial in Israel, some fearing that it encourages activists to remove more hostages. For Palestinians, the release of hundreds of men, women and youth constitute an important victory. It could also lead to a lifting of certain restrictions imposed by Israel and Egypt to the Gaza Strip since 2007.

A Palestinian source close to the matter, the prisoners could be released in two stages. A first group of 450 would be released and Schalit would be handed over to the Egyptians and then transferred to Israel. The others were released a few weeks or months later