Egyptian intelligence chief to visit Israel for talks with Barak
Published today (updated) 24/08/2009 18:57
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Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies - Chief of Egyptian intelligence Omar Suleiman
will arrive in Israel within the next ten days to hold a meeting with its
defense minister, Ehud Barak, according to the Israeli daily newspaper
Ma'ariv.

The report said Suleiman could meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, as well. The goal of Suleiman's visit is to discuss the
possibility of completing a prisoner swap between Israel and a Palestinian
faction holding Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, Ma'ariv reported.

Last month, Sulaiman met in Cairo with Hagai Hadas, a special envoy of the
Israeli prime minister, for discussions over a potential prisoner swap for
the captured soldier.

One of Suleiman's top aides, Egyptian General Muhammad Ibrahim, met with
Hamas politburo chief Khalid Mash'al in Damascus on Thursday.

Hamas Political Bureau chief Khalid Mash'al met in Damascus on Thursday with
a senior Egyptian official who is working to smooth relations with rival
party Fatah. The Egyptian envoy was tasked with reuniting the disparate
Palestinian factions.

Ibrahim and a delegation of other officials met with President Mahmoud Abbas
in Amman on Tuesday before travelling to the West Bank for talks with key
Hamas and Fatah leaders. Hamas leaders said their meeting with Ibrahim
Ramallah also addressed the prisoner issue.