Palestinians, Egyptians discuss prisoner swap with Israel

Visiting Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar had discussed with the Egyptian officials on a prisoner swap with Israel as well as the ways to end the Israeli aggression and blockade on the Palestinian territories, the Egyptian news agency MENA reported.

The release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and a deal to exchange him for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails was discussed during Zahar's meeting Thursday in Cairo with Egyptian officials.

The report said Zahar also conveyed to Egyptian officials the wish of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya to visit Cairo.

In addition, Zahar is also scheduled to meet Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa before leaving Egypt to continue his trip to Oman, Syria and Iran.

Meanwhile, Damascus-based officials from the ruling Palestinian Hamas movement, headed by the group's representative in Syria Imad al-Alami, arrived in Cairo late Monday to hold talks with Egyptian officials on a prisoner exchange with Israel.

Egypt has been trying to negotiate the release of Shalit, who was abducted by Hamas-linked groups on June 25.

Source: Xinhua