Israel to free 1000 Palestinians in exchange for soldier

Cpl. Gilad Schalit, who was captured by militants in Gaza during a cross-border raid on June 25, 2006. Photo / AP

Israel's president on Saturday began the process of formally pardoning hundreds of Palestinian prisoners who are to be exchanged for an Israeli soldier held by Gaza militants for five years.

A spokeswoman for President Shimon Peres said he received the files of hundreds of prisoners set for release in the first phase of the deal and has 48 hours to sign the pardons. The swap will likely happen Tuesday.

Under the deal, 1,027 Palestinians, including some behind attacks on Israelis, will released in two stages in return for Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who was captured by Hamas-backed militants in a 2006 cross-border raid.

Israel has agreed to uneven prisoner exchange deals for decades. This swap, however, is the most lopsided to date. Critics say it encourages more abductions, is unjust to families of those killed and also poses the risk that freed militants will return to violence.

The list of prisoners included in the deal is to be released publicly, and in a mostly symbolic gesture, Israelis will be able to raise appeals.

Among the Palestinian prisoners to be freed are many involved in plotting suicide bombings inside cafes and buses as well as shooting attacks that killed hundreds of Israelis and injured many more.

Israeli TV Channel 2 aired a prison interview with female prisoner, Ahlam Tamimi, who is expected to be released. In 2001, she transported a suicide bomber to a Sbarro restaurant in downtown Jerusalem, where he killed 15 people. Asked if she felt remorse, Tamimi said, "No, why should I?"

Little is known of the captured Israeli soldier's condition. Hamas banned the Red Cross from visiting him and only released a short audio and video statement not long after his capture, confirming that he was alive.

In the West Bank and Gaza, families waited in anticipation for the return of their loved ones. The prisoners are highly regarded in Palestinian society.

Hamas officials were in talks with Egyptian intelligence officers in Cairo to work out the intricate mechanics of how to safely transfer Schalit.

Hamas is eager to keep secret the location in Gaza where they have held Schalit, no easy feat in a tiny sliver of territory crammed with 1.6 million people.

Some militants involved in hiding Schalit also said they feared Israeli forces might seize the soldier if they knew of his location before he was spirited out, a senior Hamas official said. They were also on guard for the slim possibility that other militants along the transfer route might try to harm the soldier.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to reporters. He would not say what strategy was agreed on, only that "different scenarios" were under consideration.

The general plan is to transfer Schalit from Hamas custody to Egypt. Cairo would then hand the soldier over to Israel.

The official would not say when Schalit would be transferred to Egyptian custody or from where. He said the Israeli would not be handed over to Egyptian officials at Rafah, the only border crossing between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.

The spokesman for a smaller Palestinian militant faction also involved in Schalit's capture said the handover would involve several steps.

First, the identities of released Palestinian prisoners would be checked, said Mohammed al-Barem of the Popular Resistance Committees. Once confirmed, they would be transferred in buses to the Egyptian Sinai desert.

Once they reach the Sinai, the procedures to release Schalit would begin, he said.

"They will hand over the captive soldier simultaneously, without announcement and in secret, with strong security procedures by the factions holding (Schalit)," al-Barem said.

Once that is accomplished, the Palestinian prisoners meant to be released into Gaza would be taken to the Rafah crossing.

From there, Palestinian officials will escort them to Gaza City for a huge celebration.

Israel is expected to release around 450 Palestinian prisoners on the same day that Schalit is freed and about 550 more two months later.

Prisoners headed to the West Bank are typically left at Israeli checkpoints scattered throughout the territory. Waiting Palestinian buses ferry them back home.

- AP