In a meeting between a delegation of Meretz-Yachad Knesset members in Cairo with Minister of Intelligence Omar Suleiman, Mr. Suleiman said that despite the crisis in the Palestinian Authority and the events in Gaza, negotiations are continuing for a prisoner exchange that would bring about the release of Gilad Shalit. Suleiman added that he is in contact with Hamas and is currently awaiting an Israeli response.

Suleiman said that Egypt is focusing on three main areas: Strengthening the Palestinian Authority under Abu Mazen; weakening the extremist forces who do not recognize the new government and pressuring them through political and economic means to change their policies; and encouraging Israeli-Palestinian negotiations on permanent status.

In a meeting with Presidential adviser Dr. Osama El-Baz, Dr. El-Baz said that Tony Blair would not be able to succeed unless his mandate were widened and included also political, in addition to economic, issues.

In their meetings in Cairo with Egyptian top officials, the Meretz-Yachad delegation raised the importance of returning to a political process, the need to see Gilad Shalit released, and the need to avert a humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.