2009-11-25 09:21:50
WAM Abu Dhabi, Nov 25th, 2009 (WAM) -- A much-awaited exchange of prisoners between Israel and Hamas is now being finalised. Brokered by Egypt, the deal is significant in terms of the human factor, commented a UAE paper.

The Dubai-based Khaleej Times in its today's editorial "Swapping Prisoners" has hoped that it could also end the Palestine-Israel impasse.

"With the Hamas representatives currently in Cairo, it's almost a done deal. If implemented, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails will be released in exchange for the captured Israeli soldier, Sergeant Shalit. The list of prisoners could include charismatic Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti", the paper said and added that it comes just days after Israeli leader Shimon Peres' visited Cairo.

Shalit's imprisonment since 2006 has become a national concern for Israel. In exchange for Shalit, Israel will initially release between 350-450 Palestinians, followed by another 650 in the coming weeks. That this final agreement has finally come through is a positive development. Previous efforts to reach a mutual agreement failed in view of contentions from both sides about the prisoners, read the editorial.

Hamas had used the Shalit card to its advantage and even managed to secure the release of twenty Palestinian female prisoners in exchange of a video film of the Israeli prisoner.

"The release of Palestinian prisoners, and in these numbers, is a significant achievement that can be attributed to both Hamas and the Egyptians. What may be a bigger achievement is the release of Barghouti, who many view as a natural alternative to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas", it observed.

Having tendered his resignation in protest over Israel's unwillingness to move the peace process forward, Abbas's decision has created a big dilemma for the US and Israel. Refusing to acknowledge or deal with Hamas on the pretext that it is a terrorist group, the international community has to date been focusing only on Fatah. Which is not without its risks since Hamas enjoys tremendous Palestinian support and is accepted as a legitimate political group among the people. "It is about time Washington and Israel recognised no peace is possible with the exclusion of Hamas", the paper held.

"The prisoner exchange deal may serve as a precedent to open communication channels between Hamas and Israel. At the same time, Hamas and Fatah need to reconcile their differences and join hands to push for Palestinian statehood and the Middle East peace", it concluded.

WAM/AMIR