Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was paving the way for a Hezbollah prisoner swap deal likely to see hundreds of Palestinians freed as fresh talks took place to tackle a dispute delaying the formation of a new Palestinian government. Sharon faces a major battle to persuade fellow ministers to back the prisoner exchange, but the premier believes that failure to push through a deal could lead to the death of an Israeli held by the Lebanese militia. “It’s a matter of life and death,” Sharon was quoted as saying by the top-selling Yediot Aharonot daily on Thursday. “The ministers must decide on the fate of a fellow Israeli. For my part, I am for saving him.” Sharon’s office announced Wednesday that the exchange deal would be put before ministers at the weekly cabinet on Sunday, but reports say that a majority oppose the proposal. Full Story