PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT GIVES PRESS CONFERENCE

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, tells reporters Israel has agreed to withdraw from Gaza and free some prisoners in return for an Israeli soldier's freedom on July 7, 2006. Avi Dichter, Israel's Minister of Public Security, said Israel was prepared to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the freedom of Corporal Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive for almost two weeks. It was the first public admission that Israel was willing to contemplate a prisoner exchange to free Corporal Shalit, who was captured during a raid on Israeli positions near Gaza on June 25, 2006. (UPI Photo/HANDOUT)