Egyptian, Israeli Leaders Meet to Discuss Prisoner Swap | Voice of America - English
Egyptian and Israeli leaders met to discuss a proposed prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas, as well as the security situation in the Gaza Strip following a truce between Israel and Palestinian militants.  VOA's Jim Teeple reports from Jerusalem, Palestinian militants fired at least three rockets at southern Israel on Tuesday in violation of the truce.
Nearly a week after an Egyptian-mediated truce wentinto effect between Israeli forces and Palestinian militants in theGaza Strip, Israel's Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met with EgyptianPresident Hosni Mubarak. They discussed the next step in the process;a prisoner exchange that would likely see Palestinian militantsreleased in exchange for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was seizedtwo years ago by Palestinian militants from his post along the Gazaborder. Speaking as the meeting got underway in the Egyptianresort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Mr. Olmert said Egypt is playing a key rolein calming the situation in Gaza. The Israeli prime minister thankedEgypt for its continuing efforts to get Shalit released, and he saysthe recent truce in Gaza was in large part due to Egyptian efforts. Israeliofficials traveling with the prime minister said Egypt had pledged notto reopen the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza until Shalitis released. Mr. Mubarak would not comment except to say Egypt ismaking an effort to get the Israeli soldier freed. Meanwhile,Israeli authorities confirmed they had killed two Palestinians,including a senior Islamic Jihad commander in the West Bank city ofNablus in the first such operation since the Gaza truce went intoeffect last week. Later in the day in apparent retaliation,Islamic Jihad militants fired at least three rockets from Gaza -striking the southern Israeli city of Sderot. A statement from Hamasmilitants said they remained committed to the truce. TheIsraeli operation was condemned by Palestinian officials attending a40-nation conference in Berlin that pledged $242 million in donor aidto build up a judicial infrastructure, and boost the security forces ofmoderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank. Mideastenvoy Tony Blair told the conference Palestinians need a build ajudicial system in order to fulfill their aspirations for a state. "Thisis just not about forces with guns, it is about a properly functioningcriminal justice system, it is about courts and a prosecution service,a prison service," he said. "It is about a full infrastructure thatgoes to make up a criminal justice system of a state. In theWest Bank city of Bethlehem, French President Nicolas Sarkozy heldtalks Tuesday with moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Mr.Sarkozy, who wrapped up a three-day visit to Israel and the Palestinianterritories, said Israel's security is non-negotiable for France, butthat Israel should freeze settlement activity in the West Bank. TheFrench president also strongly condemned Hamas militants, saying peacecannot be created through terrorism. Mr. Sarkozy's departurefrom Israel was marred when an Israeli border policeman committedsuicide about 100 meters from where the departure ceremony was takingplace. As a gunshot rang out security officials quickly moved Mr.Sarkozy and his wife to their plane cutting short the ceremony.