Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., July 22, 2008 Tamuz 19, 5768 | | Israel Time: 11:20 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh visiting the mother of Samir Kuntar's former cell-mate in Gaza on Wednesday. (AP) Last update - 17:07 20/07/2008 Olmert: Israel can be 'proud' of swap deal with Hezbollah By Avi Issacharoff and Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies Tags: Samir Kuntar, Israel, Hamas  Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Sunday that Israel should be proud of the prisoner swap deal implemented last week with Hezbollah, under which five Lebanese prisoners and nearly 200 bodies of enemy dead were returned in exchange for the remains of abducted Israeli soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser. Olmert told ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem that, "Israel can be proud of the fact that we pay a high price," saying it shows Israeli soldiers that their country will spare no effort to bring them home, even if that home is the military cemetery. Olmert also said it shows Israel's values "are completely different from those of our enemies." Advertisement The prime minister also told the cabinet he believes Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been held captive by Palestinian militants in Gaza since 2006, would be returned to Israel alive and well. At the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting, Olmert said "I have called the Shalit family and promised them in all our names that we would do everything possible to bring Gilad Shalit home alive, healthy and whole as soon as possible." "I don't need to tell you how difficult that it is, it's not easy, just as we worked hard for two straight years every day to bring home Udi and Eldad may their memories be blessed," Olmert continued, referring to two IDF reservists whose bodies were returned to Israel last week in a prisoner exchange deal with the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. "I believe he will come home alive and well, and we won't rest and we won't be a peace until he is returned," the prime minister went on to say. Olmert spoke one day after Hamas confirmed that negotiations over Shalit's release were officially on hold. A senior Hamas figure said Saturday that once the group understood that Israel was not fulfilling its end of the cease-fire agreement, it had decided that continuing the Shalit talks would be futile at this time. Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants in June 2006 and has been held in Gaza since. The source told Haaretz on Saturday it was unlikely a Hamas delegation would depart for Cairo where renewed talks on a possible exchange deal would take place under an Egyptian aegis. However, despite the charges directed at Israel, Palestinian sources believe Hamas isn't willing to be flexible about Shalit at this time due to a recent prisoner swap with Hezbollah, in which Israel released five Lebanese prisoners in exchange for the remains of two IDF reservists who were seized by Hezbollah in July 2006. The same sources noted that the release of Samir Kuntar has led Hamas to the conclusion that the radical Islamic organization should stick to its demands, which includes the release of 1,000 prisoners, many of whom were sentenced to life in prison for their role in suicide bomb attacks. At a political rally in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, who was prime minister in a Hamas-led Palestinian government, called on Interior Minister Said Sayam, to issue Samir Kuntar a diplomatic passport. In an aggressive tone, Haniyeh told the crowd in Gaza that Hamas will not give in on "any issue" related to the release of Shalit. Hamas will insist on the release of prisoners who were sentenced to life in prison. He concluded his speech by shouting "Jerusalem is ours, Gaza, Haifa, Jaffa, all of them are ours." Meanwhile, a member of Fatah was shot and killed early in the northern Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, after his home came under attack by militants. Witnesses said that gunmen attacked the house of Abdel Salam Abu Taqia, 23, near Jabaliya refugee camp and killed him. Hours later, Hamas announced the murderer was arrested, and claimed the incident was motivated by family differences. Related articles: Shalit talks deadlocked as Hamas hangs on to 'asset' Samir Kuntar: I'm yearning more than ever to confront Israel Hamas: Kuntar deal sets precedent for release of Palestinian terrorists Bookmark to del.icio.us   Brown's ultimatum British PM to Knesset: Iran must suspend nuclear bid or face global isolation. One giant leap VIDEO: Israeli-developed device allows paraplegics to walk again.   1.   hamas is making a mistake 00:43  |  bashar 20/07/08   2.   Olmert, Israel`s Jimmy Carter 01:32  |  Nathaniel 20/07/08   3.   Release all Palestinian lawmakers,women and especially children, 01:46  |  lakshmi 20/07/08   4.   Oh, Boy! 02:03  |  Jeff Northridge 20/07/08   5.   Demanding so soon agian ? 02:26  |  Benjamin 20/07/08   6.   close the border again 02:26  |  joki 20/07/08   7.   Gilad Shalit`s safety 03:44  |  Richard 20/07/08   8.   # 4 Benjamin 05:20  |  Marc 20/07/08   9.   Richard _ That Ain`t Going To Do It 05:22  |  Eli 20/07/08   10.   #3 Lakshmi 05:32  |  * BEN JABO 20/07/08   11.   How long oh Lord how long 05:40  |  Gregor 20/07/08   12.   The Swap... 05:41  |  Craig 20/07/08   13.   If you can`t get Shalit diplomatically 06:17  |  Great White North 20/07/08   14.   Israel Has No Political Prisoners..Holds No Family Members 06:59  |  Reader 20/07/08   15.   We Should Do A Swap 07:15  |  Yaela Katz 20/07/08   16.   Howdy Jeff Northbridge - A belated reply (which haaretz didn`t 08:08  |  CK Tan 20/07/08   17.   Israel does not use effective measures to expedite the release 08:32  |  Rafi 20/07/08   18.   #3, lakshmi 08:45  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/07/08   19.   #4, Jeff Northridge 08:51  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/07/08   20.   #9, Eli 08:53  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 20/07/08   21.   Does Olmert or his family read these Talkback Messages 08:59  |  Natasha 20/07/08   22.   What Hamas is Telling Palestinians 09:44  |  Mark of Lewiston 20/07/08   23.   The mother of Samir Kuntar`s cell-mate 09:49  |  Fish 20/07/08   24.   Shalit and Arab prisoners 11:15  |  Maerton 20/07/08   25.   #3 lakshmi EXPOSES her FAKE bleeding HEART (3x) 11:35  |  CK Tan 20/07/08   26.   The liberation of Gilead Shalit. 12:16  |  Jean Van Daem 20/07/08   27.   OLMERT: HAMAS....PleEEEEEEEEEse Help me... 13:11  |  ALI 20/07/08   28.   Olmert: 14:43  |  Ralph 20/07/08   29.   Another Olmert prediction 15:12  |  Gideon Reader 20/07/08   30.   Olmert the political prostitute, it`s time for you to GO 15:24  |  Simon 20/07/08   31.   Hamas needs these deal, too 15:45  |  Aphemia 20/07/08   32.   Can Israel be proud of having Olmert for a PM? Hardly! 15:47  |  Mike 20/07/08   33.   Israel knows where Shalit is Held 15:55  |  sam jones 20/07/08   34.   Shalit is a lucky man 16:44  |  Natallie Durson 20/07/08   35.   ISRAEL CAN BE ASHAMED FOR SWAP! 17:04  |  LJF-CANADA 20/07/08   36.   Olmert is dulusional, It was a terrible deal for Israelis 17:18  |  Shepherd 20/07/08   37.   Olmert is dillusional 17:21  |  Yosef 20/07/08   38.   Olmert 17:30  |  michael Pielet 20/07/08   39.   T # 6 Joki 17:45  |  Amir 20/07/08   40.   ludicrous 18:19  |  G Bourg 20/07/08   41.   Olmert`s values same as those of Hizbullah and Nasrallah 18:37  |  Ian 20/07/08   42.   Olmert - untreated hutzpah, disoriented man and politician 18:39  |  17 20/07/08   43.   olmert belongs in a insane asylum,for the criminally insane 18:44  |  chaim 20/07/08   44.   Shalit will never see the light of day 19:02  |  * BEN JABO 20/07/08   45.   CK Tan # 16 Art. 28, IVth GC 19:31  |  Jeff Northridge 20/07/08   46.   THE QUESTION IS;WHO CAN BE PROUD OF MERT?HIS CLONES,MOST OF WHO 16:30  |  glenna 21/07/08   47.   Proud ? Yeah, Like Israelis Should Be Proud of Olmert ! 21:00  |  Tod Zuckerman 21/07/08   48.   #45 Howdy Jeff - Thanks for the reply 07:20  |  CK Tan 22/07/08

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