Even though the possibility of the return of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit lost significant momentum this week, some Egyptian sources indicate that a deal may still be possible before PM Ehud Olmert leaves office. His term may last longer than expected, seeing that Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu intends to request additional time to form a coalition, which may now include an enthusiastic partner in Labor.
With tension still apparent from likely-future Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s insulting comments regarding Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian ambassador to Israel Yasser Rida denied previous reports indicating that Egypt would forgive Lieberman. Due to the comments, which forced President Shimon Peres to formally apologize for Lieberman, Egypt may boycott celebrations of its peace treaty with Israel.
The recent Gaza operation also created a stir, and a senior UN official declared Israel in violation of the Geneva conventions.
Details surrounding the destruction of an apparent Syrian nuclear site surfaced yesterday, outlining the work of elite commando units to obtain soil samples before an air strike that destroyed the facility.
