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Hamas Seeks Another Prisoner Exchange Deal But Israeli Society Has Changed

(Ynet News) Yossi Yehoshua - Yediot Ahronot has learned that Israel has been engaging in talks through mediators to start a negotiation with Hamas over the return of the bodies of IDF soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul, and civilians Avra Mangisto and Hisham al-Sayed. A senior Israeli official said, "Hamas wants a 'Shalit Deal 2,' with the release of hundreds of prisoners." In 2011, IDF soldier Gilad Shalit was released from captivity in Gaza after more than five years in return for 1,027 prisoners. Hamas also demands an "entry fee" to even engage in negotiations in the form of the release of 50 security prisoners arrested in the West Bank, a demand Israel has rejected. Israel, the mediators were told, was no longer willing to pay a high price in prisoner exchange deals, particularly in light of the fact that, in the case of Goldin and Shaul, there is no doubt that the negotiation will be over bodies. "Hamas is interested in exhausting us, but Israeli society has changed since the Shalit deal," the Israeli official said.
2016-07-05 00:00:00
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