Israel’s supreme court on Sunday made an announcement which, for the first time, puts the Jewish State on the record with much of what Fox News has been reporting with regard to the prisoner exchange deal intended to free the kidnapped Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

The high court today said today that 450 Prisoners, chosen by Hamas, may be released in order to secure the release of Shalit.  In addition, 530 Palestinian prisoners chosen by Israel may be released. Including the 20 Palestinian women who were already released from Israeli prison.  The path is cleared to release a total of 1000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit.

The announcement is not directly linked to developments in the negotiations. The court released the guidelines for the prisoners swap in response to a petition filed on behalf of a group opposed to the deal.  The group called bereaved parents (of attack victims) demanded that the government release the guidelines for the prisoner swap. They are also demanding the State release the names of the 450 Prisoners Hamas wants released.

The court is required to publicize the names of prisoners before they are set free but a spokesman for the Prime Minister told Fox that will only happen “if and when there is a completed deal.” The spokesman strongly emphasized that this announcement does not mean the deal is done.

Hamas said negotiations about the Prisoner swap would resume on Tuesday, after the Muslim holiday Eid al Adha (feast of the sacrifice.)