Switzerland mediates Hamas-Israel talks – paper

GENEVA, Jan 3 (KUNA) — Switzerland has mediated the talks held in camera by Hamas and Israel during the past few months, a report by Le Temps correspondent in Israel Serge Dumont said Thursday. These exchanges announced later by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas were also admitted by Mahmoud Al Zahar – the foreign minister of the sacked government of the hard-line Hamas movement. The exchanges are based on a Swiss blueprint for a declaration of intent whereby the two parties would negotiate means of calming the situation over a long period, the report adds. According to the document, a ten-year period of calm will require that Hamas puts an end to its Kassam rocket attacks against Israel, whereas Israel terminates its targeted killings of Hamas members. The document also spells out a prisoner swap that could evolve into a state of calm between Hamas and Israel, Le Temps added.