1. Prime minister Natanyahu of Israel says a prisoner swap deal with Hamas has not yet been agreed and may not happen. This statement came as Hamas officials were in the Egyptian capital to discuss the proposed swap of captive Israeli soldier for hundreds of jailed Palestinians. Natanyahu said 'should there be such a deal, we would not do it as a fait-a-complis. We will allow the cabinet, ministers and public in general to discuss the issue'. Soldier Gilad Shalid was ceased by Hamas fighters on the Gaza border in June 2006. An Israeli official had earlier said that an agreement for the swap is very close. Germany is mediating the negotiations. Hamas has blamed Israel already for any hold-ups.
Tha Hamas movement says that it is serious with the prisoner swap. Top Hamas leader in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan says that the release of Palesinian prisoners is a National issue. All kinds of Palestinians should be released. Not only from Hamas.
2. Palestinian chief authority Abbas says US president Obama is doing nothing for the stalled Middle east process. Abbas made the comment in Argentina. Agentina President Christina Kouchner echoed Abas's words and said Obama should do more to restart Palestinian Israeli talks.
3. Hundreds of Hadj pilgrims including Palestinians from resistance movements have attended a conference in Jerusalem to discus the issue of Palestine.