Israel sends Hamas answer on prisoner deal - 2nd Update

Jerusalem - Israel has sent Hamas its response to the Islamist organization's demands for a prisoner swap which would see hundreds of jailed Palestinian militants freed in exchange for an Israeli soldier held captive in the Gaza Strip. Hamas is demanding the release of around 1,000 jailed militants in exchange for Gilad Shalit, who was snatched on June 25, 2006 during a cross-border raid by three militias based in the coastal strip. salient.

A senior Hamas official, Ayman Taha, said his organization would "immediately convene" to study the Israeli proposals once received, and then submit its own reply. He did not say when the German mediator involved in the talks would hand over the Israeli response.

Israel Radio, quoting "senior officials," Tuesday morning, said the Israeli response includes a list of prisoners Israel will not let return to their homes in the West Bank, but wants to send to the Gaza Strip or exile overseas.

"So far, Hamas still rejects the principle of deporting a large number of prisoners out the Palestinian territories, and still wants to reduce the number of prisoners that Israel wants to deport to Gaza or abroad," Taha told the German Press Agency dpa.

The Israel answer to the Hamas demands was given after seven top ministers met on Monday to continue discussions on the deal.

Their talks - their fifth session since Sunday -ended without any formal announcement, despite speculation to the contrary beforehand.

All Israeli officials would say immediately after the meeting broke up after midnight, was that the government's negotiating team has been instructed to continue its efforts to secure Shalit's release.

The exact parameters of the proposed deal have been kept tightly under wraps and few details have been leaked from the meetings the seven ministers have held.

Reports which have emerged from the discussions say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is opposed to allowing freed Hamas activists to return to their homes in the West Bank, for fear they would launch attacks on nearby Israeli population centers, or would attack the Palestinian Authority, which controls the West Bank and is Hamas' bitter rival.

The premier is believed to be holding out for the activists to be sent to the Gaza Strip, or even exiled overseas.

According to Israeli media reports Tuesday, if Hamas accepts this demand, the full Israeli cabinet would be convened in order to approve the deal.