Talks for Shalit's release underway

A new round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas are taking place in Cairo in an effort to secure the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The London based al -Hayat newspaper reported Monday that representatives from Israel and Hamas in Gaza met last week for the first round of discussions in Cairo. An Egyptian official told the Arab language newspaper that while there has been no real breakthrough both sides have shown a willingness to move forward. Israel envoy David Midan a former Mossad official is head of the Israeli delegation and Mohammed al-Ja'bari a senior member of Hamas Izzaa-Din al-Qassam military wing head the Palestinian delegation the report said. On June 2006 while on operational duty near the Gaza Strip, Gilad Shalit was abducted and taken to Gaza where he has been held incommunicado. Hamas has refused international efforts to permit members of the International Red Cross to visit the soldier.