Abbas making all-out effort to win soldiers release

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas today said he is making an all-out effort to win the release of an Israeli soldier held by Hamas-allied militants, but also called on Israel to free thousands of Palestinian prisoners.

Abbas spoke hours after a top Israeli official indicated for the first time that Israel is willing to cut a two-stage deal for the release of the soldier, Cpl Gilad Shalit, who was seized on June 25.