Israel's Barak denies Gaza captive deal

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak denied Sunday reports a deal was close with the Islamist group Hamas for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails. "The reports are incorrect and it's possible they are even causing damage," Barak told reporters. Israeli media reports Thursday cited European diplomats as saying that Shalit, held by Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip, was about to be sent to neighboring Egypt. One possibility cited by an Israeli political source was that once Shalit was moved to Egypt, Israel would begin to open Gaza's border crossings. With Egypt mediating, Israel and Hamas would then hammer out a final agreement on... [read full story]                    

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