Deal 'before Netanyahu era' /Al-Sharq al-Awsat

         Egypt is monitoring the public opinion polls in Israel ahead of the February 10 general elections and is trying to convince Hamas to relax its demands for a deal with the Jewish state before the end of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's tenure, the London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat reported Monday, quoting Israeli sources. Preventing Smuggling Barak: Egypt stopping arms from getting to Gaza / Roni Sofer Defense minister briefs cabinet on Cairo's efforts to thwart weapons smuggling into Strip, says Israeli offensive met every operational objective Full story According to the report, Egypt warned Hamas that the next Israeli government, which according to the polls will be headed by Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu – will take more radical stances. Therefore, they said, the Palestinian movement must take advantage of the opportunity as long as the Olmert government is still in power, for fear of "losing everything". The sources quoted by the paper estimated that Cairo understand the next two weeks will be crucial and will be seen as Hamas' "last opportunity for a good deal". They said Olmert was interested in completing his tenure with a major agreement such as the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is interested in the deal "because her popularity is declining", and Defense Minister Ehud Barak wishes "to strengthen his rise in the polls". Hamas delegates met Sunday with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. According to the London-based Arabic-language al-Hayat newspaper, the movement controlling the Gaza Strip agreed to an 18-month truce in exchange for the opening of all crossings "at full production". The organization has expressed its objection in the past to a year-long truce, with the option of renewing it in the future. A member of the delegation said, however, that his organization had turned down an Israeli offer which included an unlimited lull and the opening of all crossings in return for Gilad Shalit. "We stressed our refusal to link between the crossings' operation and Shalit's release," the Hamas member said. "The Shalit issue is separate and is only related to the prisoners' issue." (12,00)