JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- Israel's cabinet on Tuesday approved a deal with Hamas to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, an official statement said.
Ministers voted 26 to 3 in favor of the Egyptian-mediated deal for the soldier held captive since June 2006, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to ratify the lopsided swap that he called "the best deal we could achieve".
Ministers voted 26 to 3 in favor of the Egyptian-mediated deal for the soldier held captive since June 2006, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged them to ratify the lopsided swap that he called "the best deal we could achieve".
