Ankara reportedly negotiating for release of Israeli soldier

Turkey has been working to broker a deal that will allow jailed Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit to return to Israel in a prisoner exchange swap with Hamas, Israeli media reported yesterday. According to the report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently stated that international elements have been working on Shalit's behalf in the past few days, but it has only recently been cleared for publication by Israeli government officials that Netanyahu was in fact referring to Turkey, which Tel Aviv believes has the most influence over Hamas. Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Turkey had maintained a low profile in its negotiation efforts, but that it recently decided to boost efforts, apparently as a way to rebuild ties with Israel. Israeli-Turkish businessman Eliko Donmez reportedly met with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan after last year's deadly Mavi Marmara flotilla raid and handed him a letter written by the captive soldier's father Noam. Shalit asked Erdogan to use his influence over Hamas to convince the group to accept a German proposal to release 1,000 prisoners in exchange for his son. The report claims Turkey started its involvement in the matter following receipt of the letter, with Donmez acting as mediator. Shalit was captured in 2006 by Hamas in a cross-border raid.