Israel PM wants to free 450 Palestinians in swap: report

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

JERUSALEM (AFP) — Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is willing to release 450 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a soldier held by militants in the Gaza Strip, a newspaper reported on Friday.

Olmert has asked the five ministers dealing with the proposed swap with Hamas to draw up the list which would increase from about 80 the number of prisoners Israel is willing to release in exchange for Gilad Shalit.

The Israeli corporal, who turned 22 on Wednesday, was captured in a deadly cross-border raid from Gaza in June 2006 and is believed to be held by Hamas, the Islamist movement which rules the tiny Palestinian territory.

Olmert's spokesman Mark Regev would not confirm or deny the report. "Giving such information does not facilitate his release," he said....