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Last update - 19:44 14/07/2008 Noam Shalit: Don't free Palestinians while my son still held in Gaza By Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent, and Haaretz Service Tags: Hamas, Israel  The father of an Israeli soldier kidnapped and held for the past two years in the Gaza Strip lashed out Monday at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over a plan to release dozens of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Noam Shalit's son, Gilad, was abducted from his army base close to the Gaza Strip in a cross border attack in June 2006. Two of his comrades were killed in the attack by Gaza militants. Subsequent negotiations, primarily brokered by Egypt, have failed to bring about his release. Olmert agreed to free the prisoners, held by Israel since the 1993 Oslo agreement, following a request by and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas when they met this week at the Mediterranean Forum in Paris. Advertisement Shalit told Haaretz that Abbas had not done anything to secure Gilad's release during the first year after his kidnap, before Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip. "When Abu Mazen [Abbas] is so kind as to bring Gilad to the Kerem Shalom crossing or to the Rafah crossing, I will be among the first to support the freedom of Palestinian prisoners," Shalit said, referring to Abbas by his nome de guerre. "Gilad was held for a year in the Palestinian 'sAuthority territory, until the Authority was ousted by Hamas. I didn't see Abu Mazen lift a finger toward his release," he added. Last week, Israeli negotiator Ofer Dekel concluded the first round of the resumed negotiations with Egypt, in an attempt to move ahead with the deal to release Shalit. He met with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Omar Suleiman, and in parallel the Egyptians held meetings with Hamas representatives. Shalit has refrained from making public statements over the past few days, believing that talks were underway in Cairo on his son's release. "I can say that the conduct of the prime minister has been hard to understand, and at best clumsy," Shalit said. "It began with a truce agreement, in which they forfeited the possibility of intensive negotiations with Hamas for his release, and today we are releasing more prisoners. Therefore Hamas is in no rush to head to Cairo for the talks the Egyptians promised." "Today we are almost a month into the truce, but there isn't even a date for the renewal of negotiations." Meanwhile, the Arabic-language newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat reported earlier Monday that Israel has backtracked on its agreement to a phased release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit. A Palestinian source told the London-based paper that Israel refuses to release prisoners who were given lengthy sentences. The source also said that unlike prior commitments, Israel refuses to release female prisoners, including Amana Muna, the convicted killer of the Israeli teenager Ofir Nahum. Related articles: Hamas: Shalit deal progress to be kept secret, away from media Hamas suspends Shalit talks over closure of Gaza crossings Report: Hamas gave Egypt a video recording of Gilad Shalit Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hezbollah's pleasure For Israelis, the release of Kuntar is a form of self-inflicted torture. 'Nasrallah will pay' Family and friends of abducted soldiers gather to mourn.   1.   Don`t release them 10:26  |  Talmudic scholar 14/07/08   2.   Interesting Negotiating Tactic 10:37  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/07/08   3.   Talnudic Scholar - Wow! 10:40  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/07/08   4.   There is no change in the positions of Israel and Hamas. 10:43  |  Jean Van Daem 14/07/08   5.   to # 1 - Talmudic scholar 10:55  |  Robert 14/07/08   6.   CITING ARAB NEWSPAPER AS 10:57  |  Robert 14/07/08   7.   GOD help Shalit after Israel`s trading bones instead of viceversa 11:28  |  S 14/07/08   8.   Right, after releasing Kuntar Israel has a lot of credibility. 11:28  |  Pervert 14/07/08   9.   Arab media hype. Take no notice. 12:09  |  Stephen. 14/07/08   10.   Reverting back is exagerating too much! 12:27  |  S 14/07/08   11.   Just get Shalit home already!!!! If it were your son you would do 12:31  |  lily 14/07/08   12.   #1 better see a vet, you are a sick puppy 13:06  |  Labhras 14/07/08   13.   I knew it 13:19  |  rm 14/07/08   14.   Release the children,you savages! 13:21  |  lakshmi 14/07/08   15.   #12 Lahbras - That is not a nice way to talk 13:59  |  * BEN JABO 14/07/08   16.   #15 Ben Jabbo - correct now you tell him also 14:15  |  Labhras 14/07/08   17.   Talmudic scholar 14:59  |  Natallie Durson 14/07/08   18.   IT`S OK TO KILL A POLICE OFFICER AND CHILDREN AND OTHERS AND MAD 16:32  |  glenna 14/07/08   19.   #16 Labrhass - You don`t understand when it`s explained 17:27  |  * BEN JABO 14/07/08   20.   Lakshit # 14 17:38  |  Marc 14/07/08   21.   #16 Labrass - I am glad you agree 18:00  |  * BEN JABO 14/07/08   22.   To #1 Talmudic Impostor 18:25  |  massaraksh 14/07/08   23.   To Lakshmi: Who`s the Real Savage? 18:38  |  massaraksh 14/07/08   24.   RE: Talmudic Scholar, #1 19:11  |  democrat 14/07/08   25.   real issue 19:19  |  democrat 14/07/08   26.   #17 democrat - don`t be a fool 19:37  |  * BEN JABO 14/07/08   27.   #3 Mark of Lewiston - He gotcha 19:39  |  * BEN JABO 14/07/08   28.   #14 lakshmi 19:41  |  * BEN JABO 14/07/08   29.   Talmudic Scholar 20:04  |  Alain 14/07/08   30.   To BEN JABO: You Can`t Teach an Old Dog New Tricks 20:07  |  massaraksh 14/07/08   31.   26 Ben Jabo - Credibility 20:16  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/07/08   32.   Noam Shalit YOUR FAULT 20:32  |  Fred 14/07/08   33.   29 Alain - Spelling 20:42  |  Mark of Lewiston 14/07/08   34.   as if olmert cares 21:10  |  Arie 14/07/08   35.   STOP WHINING ALREADY 21:12  |  MK Vilan 14/07/08   36.   Olmert became a liar the day he became a leftist 21:26  |  Ilan 14/07/08   37.   #1 Talmudic Scholar - Come, prove yourself 23:19  |  * BEN JABO 14/07/08   38.   No Releasing Women? 23:54  |  Sarah 14/07/08   39.   LILY:Just get Shalit home already!!!! If it were your son you wou 00:36  |  Guy From NYC 15/07/08   40.   Gilad is not only Noam`s son, we all should feel him as our son. 02:30  |  Fortuna Benmayor 15/07/08   41.   Talmudic Scholar 03:06  |  wibism 15/07/08   42.   I`d like to see Shalit go home 03:10  |  wibism 15/07/08   43.   #37 Sarah - Not gender based 03:15  |  * BEN JABO 15/07/08   44.   Gilad is our son 03:22  |  wibism 15/07/08   45.   Mothers of Israel. 04:05  |  Maureen Ann 15/07/08   46.   cleanse olmerde time 05:51  |  now 15/07/08   47.   #1, liar, not scholar 10:35  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/07/08   48.   #9, Stephen 10:37  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 15/07/08   49.   #45 Maureen Ann - Who are you to talk? 05:47  |  * BEN JABO 16/07/08   50.   Talmudic Scholar - Why so silent?? 18:13  |  * BEN JABO 16/07/08

Read & React PRISONER SWAP: Bodies of Goldwasser and Regev identified; funerals Thursday Responses: 327 'We want to remember our son as he was, not as a body' Responses: 90 Bradley Burston: The pleasure Hezbollah takes in torture Responses: 165 The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Responses: 55 Rosner's Domain Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? Talansky threatened to use a bomb - a long time ago (WTR) The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Attacking Iran to get the world's attention? More Headlines 20:49 Olmert: We paid heavy price due to moral duty to our troops 16:07 'We want to remember our son as he was, not as a body' 22:27 Nasrallah makes rare, brief appearance at Kuntar welcome in Beirut 22:49 VIDEO: Israel posts clip detailing Kuntar's crimes on YouTube 21:52 Veteran Mideast journalist Eric Silver dies aged 73 21:31 Another Olmert probe, another American businessman, another unpaid loan 15:14 Turkish FM: Israel, Syria show will for peace, to hold 4th round of indirect talks 14:57 ANALYSIS / In Lebanon, prisoner swap is Hezbollah victory 18:27 Abbas congratulates Kuntar's family for killer's release 15:37 Woman, 51, gives birth to 'miracle' child 2 years after son killed in Lebanon 13:24 The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Previous Editions Select Day 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul

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