By NNN-KUNA
Cairo : Palestinian Minister of Detainee Affairs Asraf Al-Ajrami has said here no progress was made so far in the talks over the release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinian detainees in Israeli jails.
The Israelis mull changing the criteria of freeing a number of Palestinian detainees, Al-Ajrami told reporters here following his meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit Sunday.
“The Israeli side turned down the name list of detainees who should be release as part of the possible prisoner swap deal.
“They agree to the release of only a small number of the names who are not involved in armed attacks against Israelis,” he noted.
“The talks are thorny,” Al-Ajrami said with regret but voiced hope that Egypt’s mediation efforts would lead to a deal securing the release of the largest possible number of Palestinian detainees.
“The issue of detainees constitutes an essential part of the Palestine cause. It is a central issue of common Arab and international concern,” he said.
Al-Ajrami is scheduled to meet Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa Monday and Arab permanent envoys to the league to coordinate steps for raising the issue in international forums.
“We plan to put all Arab countries in the picture of detainees issue and the suffering of Palestinian children, women and sick people.
“We seek to lobby for Arab and international pressures on Israel to force it into settling the detainees issue once for all as a prelude to pushing forward the peace process,” he added.