The mother of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit on Monday said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had told her that ministers would make a decision in the "coming hours" on a deal with Hamas for her son's release.
"They hope the decision will be made this evening, and if not ? then tomorrow morning," Aviva Shalit told reporters in Jerusalem, where she was waiting in a protest tent opposite Netanyahu's office.
Her comments came as top cabinet members met for a fifth meeting consecutive meeting on the proposed prisoner exchange with Hamas.
Both of the abducted soldier's parents met earlier with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Noam Shalit, the father, said following the meeting that the prime minister had given the family no new updates regarding the deal with Hamas to see his son freed after three years in captivity.
"There's no drama here, I have nothing new to say," he said. "The process is ongoing and should end soon... We heard nothing new. [Netanyahu] updated us as much as he could. I am still not optimistic, nor am I pessimistic."
Also Monday, Fox News reported that Israel's chief negotiator in the talks with Hamas is on the verge of resigning his post, citing a senior source close to the negotiations.
It is feared that Haggai Hadas, the negotiator, will resign if Israel rejects the latest deal on the table, the U.S. network reported.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bureau denied the report, stressing that it was completely incorrect.
The "forum of seven" ministers renewed deliberating the possible prisoner exchange deal on Monday evening at 8 P.M.
The forum deals with sensitive security affairs, and is made up of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud); Defense Minister Ehud Barak (Labor); Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu); Minister without Portfolio Benny Begin (Likud); Minister of Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon (Likud); Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Shas); and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy Dan Meridor (Likud).
The seven met on Sunday for much of the day and until late in the night to discuss the terms of the deal, which would secure Shalit's release in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians now held in Israeli prisons.
"The purpose of the meetings is to try and reach understanding within the forum," said one senior official. "At this stage, there is no such understanding."
Opposition withdraws no-confidence motions to let ministers meet
Opposition parties, meanwhile, withdrew no-confidence motions against the government on Monday, in order to allow the senior ministers to continue their deliberations on the deal uninterrupted.
"Until today I have insisted that the matter of Gilad Shalit should not move into the political arena," said opposition leader Tzipi Livni. "Regardless of what anyone thinks... on this or another deal - this is not a simple decision."
Livni, whose Kadima party is the largest in the Knesset, made the comments at a faction meeting. The Arab parties joined Kadima in the withdrawing the motions.
She added: "While there are marathon meetings by the forum of seven, it is right to let the prime minister concentrate on security meetings, and for all of his attention to be devoted to what he needs to consider at this time.
"Stately behavior demands that today we refrain from submitting no-confidence motions."
Shalit's mother, Aviva, on Monday urged the ministers debating the deal to remember that their vote would either sentence her son to death or set him free.
"Everyone voting needs to realize that his vote could bring about one of two results, a death sentence for Gilad or his release from captivity," she told Army Radio. "This is a difficult day, but I hope it will end with more encouraging news."
Asked whether she had any information regarding the proceedings of the special minister sessions which were held on Sunday, Aviva Shalit said she only knew "that the deliberations are continuing."
The abducted soldier's mother said she realized there were dilemmas involved in the completion of a prisoner exchange deal, but stressed that mistakes were made by the governments during her son's captivity.
"Every conceivable mistake was made. It's impossible for him to be left there for so many days," Aviva Shalit said, adding that her son's situation was nonetheless "reversible - the whole world saw that this is a live soldier, we can't just leave him there."
Netanyahu names 'red line' in Shalit talks
Netanyahu said Sunday that while he was pushing for a deal, he was not willing to make certain concessions to Hamas.
"I'm ready to go far with the Shalit deal but I will not compromise on my red lines, chief among them the release of terrorists to the West Bank," the premier said during the discussions.
The deliberations among the forum of seven ministers began early Sunday morning. On Saturday night the Prime Minister's Bureau summoned the six other members of the forum for a special meeting early the following morning, ahead of the weekly cabinet meting.
That morning session lasted for some 90 minutes, and resumed again in the afternoon with another meeting of more than three hours. At 8 P.M., the ministers met for a third time.
"Discussions are at a crucial stage, but not in a final stage," a senior Israeli official said of the mediated talks.
Both the Prime Minister's Bureau and the military censor have eased some of the severe restrictions imposed on the publication of details of the Shalit swap.
Following many months of media blackout regarding the views of the prime minister on the deal, senior Israeli officials said that he had relayed a message to Hamas through the German mediator involved in brokering the deal. Netanyahu's message said he agreed to the release of terrorists who had murdered Israelis, but refused to allow their return to the West Bank. The released men would either be allowed into the Gaza Strip, or exiled abroad.
The premier's attitude highlights some of the differences between Israel and Hamas that still remain to be resolved in a potential deal.
Sources in Netanyahu's office said Sunday that he believes the release of terrorists into the West Bank would risk the security of Israeli citizens because of the geographical proximity to Israeli urban centers, and would also strengthen the Hamas terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank.
According to foreign news reports, the forum of seven is not in complete accord on the deal. The same reports, and comments by ministers in the forum, suggest that the group is divided into two camps. In opposition to the proposed deal are Lieberman, as well as Begin and Ya'alon, who argue that the release of hundreds of terrorists is dangerous for Israelis. Among the supporters are Barak, Yishai and Meridor, who argue that it is their obligation to ensure that an IDF prisoner is brought home.
Netanyahu has still not made a decision. Those close to him say that he is in a dilemma. "The Shalit case is psychologically very difficult," sources close to the prime minister said.
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