Barak admits Shalit talks underway

Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday admitted there is a grain of truth to reports saying talks are underway in Cairo between Israel and Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit. "I don't want to say anything [about Shalit] because I don't think it helps," Barak said. When asked to comment on reports that Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal was heading to Cairo to participate in the negotiations, the defense minister admitted there is a grain of truth to the rumors. Barak said while he preferred not to discuss the matter but added that serious talks with Hamas occurred twice in the past five years. On Tuesday the London based al-Hayat newspaper said Mashaal would participate in a third round of indirect talks. The newspaper quoted Palestinian officials saying while there is no breakthrough, Israel has shown more flexibility in the negotiations. Shalit was on operational duty near the Gaza Strip in June 2006 when he was abducted and taken to Gaza where he is being held incommunicado.