Israel to free Palestinians for Shalit

JERUSALEM, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Israel's security cabinet agreed to release 20 female Palestinian prisoners for a video tape of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, the prime minister's office said.

Hagai Hadas charged with heading talks for the release of the Israeli soldier, recommended the female prisoner release to the government, Maariv reported Wednesday.

"The cabinet convened this morning and decided to release 20 female Palestinian security prisoners according to a recommendation made by the team negotiating Shalit's release," a statement released by the prime minister's office said.

The statement said the idea was initiated by a German mediator and Egypt and stated in exchange for the women's release, Israel will receive an updated report of Shalit's condition.

Local media reports described the events as the "first concrete move in securing Shalit's release."

The female prisoners are expected to be released Friday and Israel will in turn receive an update video tape showing Shalit, Maariv said.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu congratulated Hadas and his team for their work so far and declared, "it is important that the whole world will know that Gilad Shalit is alive and well, and that Hamas is responsible for his fate and well being," the paper said.

Shalit was on operational duty near the Gaza border in June 2006 when he was captured in a cross border raid and taken to Gaza where he has been held since.