JERUSALEM, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- The Israeli government denied claims by the Palestinian Authority that a prisoner exchange was imminent within days.
The issue has been contentious since June, when then-19-year-old Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was snatched while on border patrol. Since then Egypt and Jordan have become involved in negotiations to secure his release, and a senior Palestinian Authority official told The Jerusalem Post Shalit's captors were close to a deal to exchange some 1,400 jailed Palestinians in three phases for his release.
Wednesday, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas flew to Cairo for talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
The source said under the deal, Israel will release all female and underage prisoners and Shalit would be transferred to Egypt. Israel would then release 300 more prisoners, and Shalit would be returned to Israel, which would be obliged to release about 1,000 more prisoners.
Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip refused to comment on any deal, the Post said.
