In Israel, Israeli Defense Minister Amir Peretz met with Egyptian officials today for talks on a prisoner exchange with the Hamas-led Palestinian government. The negotiations have reportedly hit an impasse over the number of Palestinian prisoners Israel will release in return for Gilad Shalit, the captured Israeli soldier. In the Occupied Territories, the mother of a Palestinian prisoner called on both sides to reach an agreement.

Um Hatem, mother of Palestinian prisoner: “God will release my son and her son and all the prisoners. We want reconciliation between the two nations, that’s what we want. We don’t want more suffering. We do not want suffering; we want peace. We want them to release our sons.”