Demonstrators lit a fire behind Netanyahu's house in Caesarea / Yoav Itiel
Former member of the Knesset Azmi Bashara took a central part in the drafting of the Paris Agreement between Israel and Hamas, in an attempt to reach a hostage deal and a ceasefire - this is what the French newspaper "Le Figaro" reported today (Sunday).
According to the report, Bashara, who fled to Qatar after being suspected of espionage against Israel, serves as a senior adviser to the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
Bashara fled Israel in 2007, after accusations surfaced that he passed information to Hezbollah in the Second Lebanon War.
Bashara denied the suspicions against him.
According to the updated American outline discussed at the summit in the French capital, the outline will include the release of several hundred Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of 35-40 Israeli abductees, including civilian women, female soldiers, men over 50 and abductees in serious medical condition.
The number of prisoners that will be released for each of the female soldiers will be higher than for the other abductees that will be released at this stage and will also include "heavier" prisoners.
For each abductee who is released, Israel will agree to a day of ceasefire, when in total in the first phase of the deal it will be possible to reach a six-week ceasefire.
The American proposal included an initial and limited return of Palestinian citizens to the northern Gaza Strip from the very first stage of implementing the deal, under conditions to be defined later in the negotiations.
Senior Advisor to the Emir of Qatar.
Bashara/Flash 90, Flash90
The talks on the hostage deal have not yet reached agreement, and there are still some disagreements between Israel and Hamas in the negotiations. The differences between the parties remain on the issue of the number of prisoners to be released for each Israeli abductee. The "key" for the release of prisoners that Hamas demands is lower than before, but still more than double that that appeared in the Paris outline, which included the release of 400 prisoners in total for about 40 hostages, of which about 15 are prisoners serving life sentences for the murder of Israelis.
According to an Israeli senior official, the current plan is for the Israeli delegation to leave for Qatar on Monday. Prime Minister Netanyahu is expected to hold today Discussion regarding the mandate of the negotiating team regarding the abductees deal.
The Prime Minister's Office announced last night that "Prime Minister Netanyahu already announced yesterday that the War Cabinet and the Political-Security Cabinet will meet on the first day to guide the negotiating delegation before it leaves for Doha.
The demand to convene the cabinet tonight is nothing more than an artificial attempt to garner headlines."
In response to the Paris plan, Hamas demands the release of more than 1,000 prisoners, including more than 100 prisoners serving life sentences for murdering Israelis. Senior Israeli officials say that the gap can be closed through negotiations between the parties on this issue.
In addition, a senior Israeli official said that Hamas demands the release of 50 prisoners for each of the five female soldiers held captive.
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Azmi Bashara
abducted
Gaza war
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