Cabinet votes on Shalit deal

Government holds urgent session to discuss deal meant to secure release of Hamas-held IDF soldier. Netanyahu says at start of meeting that if everything goes as planned Shalit will return home within days after more than five years in Hamas captivity; sources say it is 'highly likely' deal would be approved by majority vote Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the cabinet for an urgent session on Tuesday night to approve a prisoner exchange deal meant to secure the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Netanyahu said at the start of the cabinet meeting that if everything goes as planned Shalit will return home within days after more than five years in Hamas captivity. Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal hailed a deal with Israel to release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit a "national achievement" for Palestinians. Meshaal said in a televised statement that 450 prisoners would be released within a week, with the rest being freed in two months. The detainees being freed included all 27 Palestinian women prisoners held by Israel, he said. The Izaddin al-Kassam brigades presented the prisoner-exchange agreement with Israel for kidnapped soldier Gilad Schalit as a "historic victory," claiming that Israel has accepted all the demands of the captors. Abu Obaida, spokesman for the armed wing of Hamas, Izaddin al-Kassam, said that the agreement includes prisoners from east Jerusalem, Israeli Arabs and all females and minors. He also pointed out that two-thirds of the prisoners who would be released in return for Gilad Schalit are serving lengthy terms in prison. (22,00)