Alhurra report on Israeli prisoner swap cited by news agencies.

"Israel and Hamas reacted cautiously on Wednesday to reports a deal to exchange hundreds of Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier held in the Gaza Strip might be concluded by the end of this month. ... The U.S.-funded Arabic television channel Al-Hurra quoted unidentified sources as saying a German and Egyptian-mediated agreement to exchange captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit for Palestinians held in Israeli jails would be clinched by Eid." Reuters, 18 November 2009.
     "Earlier Wednesday, the American Arabic-language news network Alhurra reported that a deal for the release of the Israeli soldier was in the 'last agreement' stages. According to the report, which cites 'credible sources', Shalit is slated to be released on the eve of the Muslim holiday of Eid al Adha, which falls next Friday. The soldier will be released in exchange for "hundreds of prisoners", the network said. AP, 18 November 2009.
     "Earlier Wednesday, the US-based Arabic news network Al-Hurra had reported that a deal for Schalit's release would be underway by next week. Without citing sources, the report said that Schalit would be freed in exchange for 'hundreds of prisoners.' The report added that the soldier would return to Israel via Egypt." Jerusalem Post, 18 November 2009.
     "Also on Wednesday, Arabic-language news network Alhurra, based in the U.S., also reported that a deal for Shalit's release would get underway by next week. According to the uncorroborated report, Shalit will be released in exchange for 'hundreds of prisoners.'" Ha'aretz, 18 November 2009.
     "The Al Hurra news network claimed that Shalit will be freed before a Muslim holiday that begins next Friday, but previous rumors of the soldier’s imminent release have proven false." IsraelNN.com, 18 November 2009.
     "Following various reports of progress in efforts to secure the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Avi Benayahu warned Friday against believing 'disinformation.' 'We're reading a lot of things in the media, some are true, but others are disinformation,' he said in an interview with Kol Hai Radio." Jerusalem Post, 20 November 2009.
     "Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said presidential and legislative elections scheduled for January will be postponed, confirming that he has accepted advice not to hold the vote. Abbas, speaking to BBC Arabic, said the Palestinian leadership would take measures to avoid a constitutional vacuum -- although he did not spell these out -- when the term of the current legislature and his term as president expire on Jan. 25." Reuters, 20 November 2009. "Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahar on Saturday denied Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's claims that the Islamist group had held secret talks with Israel. The PA president had told BBC-Arabic on Thursday that secret negotiations had been held in Geneva." Jerusalem Post, 21 November 2009. Posted: 21 Nov 2009 Permalink Print