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Last update - 15:53 27/07/2008 Shin Bet chief: Hezbollah deal may spur abductions By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service Tags: Gilad Shalit, Mahmoud Abbas Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin on Sunday warned that a recent prisoner swap deal between Israel and Hezbollah could prompt Palestinian militant groups to carry out more abductions. "The prisoner deal with Hezbollah bolsters the motivation of Palestinian organizations to kidnap soldiers and Israeli civilians," Diskin told ministers at a weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said during the meeting that a key border crossing to the Gaza Strip must remain closed pending progress on a deal for the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. Advertisement Livni told ministers that reopening the Rafah crossing before advancing a deal for Shalit's release. "Opening [the crossing] will strengthen Hamas, so if we do it, it must be linked to Gilad Shalit and with [cooperation] of Abu Mazen's forces," Livni said, referring to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas While the Egyptian-mediated cease-fire between Hamas and Israel stipulates that Israel gradually lift its siege on the Gaza Strip and reopen border crossings, Israel has sporadically shut the crossings down to truce violations. Meanwhile, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday hosted Abbas, for talks on a number of regional issues including factional Palestinian violence and a deal to release Shalit. Palestinian envoy to Egypt, Nabil Amar, told the Saudi Al-Watan daily on Sunday that he hoped the deal would be sealed soon, as the ensuing battles for his release have cost the lives of too many Palestinians. Shalit was captured by Gaza militants in a cross-border raid in June 2005. There have been various reports on his condition as well as a few signs of life, but for the most part, the Egyptian-mediated negotiations for his released have been kept mum. Israel and Hamas have not yet agreed to renew negotiations over the release of Shalit's release, despite the completion of the Hezbollah prisoner swap and the relative quiet on the southern front that were supposed to advance talks on a swap with Hamas. Hamas seems now to be refusing to back down from the list of hundreds of prisoners whose release it demands. However, Israel has only approved 71 names on the list. Israeli negotiator Ofer Dekel proposed in June to Egyptian mediator General Omar Suleiman to begin intensive talks over Shalit's release, and for the Egyptians to act as intermediaries between Hamas and Israel. The idea was to renew negotiations immediately after the Hezbollah deal went through, taking advantage of the lull in hostilities in the Gaza Strip. Despite rumors that Egypt would try to facilitate talks between Hamas and Israel, the militant group has not sent a high-level delegation to Cairo for talks with Suleiman, saying it is still conducting internal discussions on the matter. Related articles: Hamas representatives delay talks on swap for Shalit Shalit talks deadlocked as Hamas hangs on to 'asset' Noam Shalit: Don't free Palestinians while my son still held in Gaza Bookmark to del.icio.us   West Bank drought Palestinian Water Authority calls on Israel to rethink its water policies. Death of an artist Egyptian filmmaker's controversial work earned him international recognition.   1.   The law of unintended consequences strikes again 15:00  |  Natallie Durson 27/07/08   2.   The liberation of Gilead Shalit. 15:23  |  Jean Van Daem 27/07/08   3.   The marvellous Natalie reads Hamas minds with the greatest ease. 15:51  |  x-ray 27/07/08   4.   SHIN BET CHIEF MAKES 16:15  |  Robert 27/07/08   5.   Shalit was abducted BECAUSE Israel gave too much in the past 16:29  |  Moshe 27/07/08   6.   SOONER OR LATER, ISRAEL WILL GIVE IN ON SHALIT 16:42  |  indrajaya 27/07/08   7.   No kidding...... 16:57  |  bill Pearlman 27/07/08   8.   to # 6 - Indrajaya 17:08  |  Robert 27/07/08   9.   Hezbollah deal may spur abductions 17:08  |  Steve Gure 27/07/08   10.   No "x-ray", Natallie is exacly right 17:21  |  BBSNews 27/07/08   11.   IS THIS ALL SHIN BET CAN DO AT 2008? 17:31  |  indrajaya 27/07/08   12.   Define a `fair` trade 18:27  |  Ilan 27/07/08   13.   Ya think ? !!!!!! (duhhh!) 18:44  |  Fred McCann 27/07/08   14.   Getting Hamas to the Table for Shalit 18:52  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/07/08   15.   its already prompted, nevermind it might in future 19:14  |  topanga 27/07/08   16.   PROFITS FROM ABDUCTIONS 19:24  |  Iskander 27/07/08   17.   #10 What fair deal 20:10  |  MJ 27/07/08   18.   Say It Ain`t So, Tzipi 20:26  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/07/08   19.   to #8-Robert 20:49  |  Omer 27/07/08   20.   Take him back 21:33  |  Samer 27/07/08   21.   Price of life 21:39  |  Jordan 27/07/08   22.   AZnyone could see the outcome of this Deal..... 21:47  |  Dolly 27/07/08   23.   It was easy to guess the Outcome of this deal.... 22:00  |  Dolly 27/07/08   24.   #18, Mark of Lewiston 22:12  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/07/08   25.   It`s OLMERT all over again! 22:18  |  Onlooker 27/07/08   26.   Where are those Famous Brains of the Country 22:38  |  Josephus 27/07/08   27.   And an Occupation doesnt? 23:20  |  billy jack 27/07/08   28.   Here we go 23:24  |  Paul 27/07/08   29.   24 Cipora - Those Agreements were Never Renewed 23:33  |  Mark of Lewiston 27/07/08   30.   to the chosen people 23:34  |  moody 27/07/08   31.   x-ray#3 01:24  |  Sank 28/07/08   32.   #30 Moody in Toolouse 03:08  |  * BEN JABO 28/07/08   33.   Billy Jack stop drinking the shine 04:51  |  Gregor 28/07/08

Read & React Tensions high in Gaza as Hamas cracks down on rival groups Responses: 237 Israeli troops kill Hamas man behind Dimona terror attack Responses: 118 IDF officers: Yeshiva teachers incite W. Bank teens to violence Responses: 93 Report: Rabbis slam removal, publication of note Obama left in Western Wall cracks Responses: 69 Aluf Benn: 'Hamastan' is prototyope for future Palestinian state Responses: 58 Rosner's Domain What American Jews believe (WTR) Barack Obama, the fashionable darling of the Israeli left The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) More Headlines 02:44 Israel finally agrees to move separation fence at Bil'in 01:02 Pentagon chief: War with Iran 'disastrous on number of levels' 02:47 15 people killed, 154 hurt in twin explosions in Istanbul 02:54 Israel mulls acquiring U.S. anti-rocket system to protect Sderot 02:13 Rice presses Israel, PA to agree on document ahead of UN meet 02:39 Sans porn, Hasidim introduced to world of 'kosher Internet' 22:36 High Court slams gov't for shunning ruling on funding for yeshivas 04:52 Treasury to double university tuition for sought-after majors 04:38 Health Ministry calls for parents to limit kids' use of cell phones 15:53 Shin Bet chief: Hezbollah deal may spur abductions 00:06 Police: Olmert to be questioned numerous times in corruption probes 20:43 Iran eyes seat on UN Security Council as Asia representative Previous Editions Select Day 27 jul 25 jul 24 jul 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul

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