A ‘breakthrough’ in talks to free Israeli

Talks on freeing an Israeli soldier held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip have achieved “a breakthrough,” the armed wing of the governing Islamic movement Hamas said Sunday, without giving details.

Spokesman Abu Ubaida said that Hamas’ military wing, Izzidin al-Qassam, and two other factions holding Cpl. Gilad Shalit were not ready to free him, but that a deal could be near after what he described as a change in the Israeli position.

“There is a breakthrough in this file, and we hope it will be concluded very soon,” Abu Ubaida said.

But an Israeli government official said progress was steady rather than dramatic.

“Nothing’s going to happen overnight,” the official said.

The armed factions have demanded that Israel free more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit, captured in June by gunmen who crossed into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip.

One of the groups, the Popular Resistance Committees, said Shalit might be handed to Egypt after Israel freed a group of prisoners. The Egyptians would keep him until Israel released another group.

PRC spokesman Abu Mujahed did not say how many prisoners might be freed.

Shalit’s capture prompted a devastating military offensive into the Gaza Strip, from which Israel had withdrawn troops and settlers in 2005. The offensive was ended by a truce in November.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said Israel would be prepared to free Palestinians if Shalit was returned. Israel has kept quiet about details of diplomatic dealings to bring him home.

Olmert’s planned visit to Egypt this week has stirred speculation that a deal could be close.

Israel does not talk to Hamas, which is sworn to the Jewish state’s destruction, but has said it could release prisoners to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, a moderate who seeks an independent Palestine alongside Israel.