Israel softens stance on prisoner swap

LONDON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Israel has reportedly agreed to release all female Palestinian prisoners in return for the return of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, sources in London said.

The sources told a London-based Arab newspaper that the Israelis have moderated their stand on the number of Palestinian prisoners they refuse to release, Haaretz reported Friday.

A basic bone of contention between Israel and Hamas in the ongoing Egyptian-mediated talks about Shalit has been Israel's refusal to release some 120 Palestinians imprisoned for attacks on Israelis.

The latest word is that Israel has reduced that number from 120 to 40, Ynetnews.com reported.

Additionally, it is reported Israeli officials have agreed to lower the number of Palestinian prisoners that won't be allowed to return to the West Bank.

Indirect negotiations for the release of Shalit reportedly began last month.

Shalit, 25, was kidnapped by Hamas militants in a cross-border raid in June 2006.

He is being held at an unknown location in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas has refused requests by the International Committee of the Red Cross to visit him.