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Last update - 00:33 05/08/2008
PRC: Shalit won't see the light of day unless Israel agrees to swap terms
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Gilad Shalit, Israel, IDF 

The spokesman of the militant Palestinian group the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) said Monday that Gilad Shalit would not see the light of day unless Israel agrees to a prisoner exchange in accordance with all the demands of the Palestinian organizations.

Shalit, an Israel Defense Forces soldier, was captured by Gaza militants in a cross border raid in June 2006. Talks are currently underway between Israel and Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers over the terms of a deal that would see Shalit returned to Israel in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

PRC spokesman Abu Mujahed said that the IDF had failed in all its attempts to obtain information regarding the captive soldier. The militant group was responding to remarks made earlier by IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, who said that Israel knew that Shalit was alive and where he was being held.
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Abu Mujahed said that "Israel has tried to obtain information in more than one path. Ashkenazi knows very well that Shalit will see the light of day only within the framework of a respectable prisoner exchange."

At the army induction center in Tel Hashomer earlier Monday, Ashkenazi told a group of armored corp recruits that "we are making every effort at all levels to return Gilad Shalit. We know he is alive and we know where he is being held."

Ashkenazi made the comment after an inductee asked: "What about Gilad Shalit? What will the IDF do when we go out to the lines and what will the state to in order to return a hostage alive or dead?"

The IDF chief responded: "Gilad Shalit has been held hostage for over two years, and we must return him and make every effort on this matter."

An IDF spokesman said however, that the remark reflected no new information, just reiteration that the army is aware Shalit is being held by Hamas militants in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the cabinet on Sunday formed a new ministerial panel to discuss the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit.

The panel, headed by Vice Premier Haim Tamon, is expected to discuss a change in the criteria for the release of prisoners "with blood on their hands" - those convicted of or directly connected to the killing of Israelis - in an effort to approve a list of names of prisoners submitted by Hamas in talks for the abducted soldier's release.

A similar panel was given the same task a number of months ago, although it only approved 70 names. Hamas is insisting on the release of an additional 380 prisoners.

Related articles:
  • New ministerial panel to mull release of Palestinian prisoners for Shalit
  • Shalit's father: Gilad begs for his life in new letter
  • Holding photo of Gilad Shalit, Betancourt urges 'freedom for everyone'
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      1.   Social worker Gabi Askenazi:IDF won`t do anything,releasing murde 11:10  |  Absolute Sweden 04/08/08
      2.   Israel Needs To Strike A Better Bargain For Shalit 11:25  |  Steve 04/08/08
      3.   IDF SHOULD GET SHALIT 11:28  |  Observer 04/08/08
      4.   The liberation of Gilead Shalit. 11:55  |  Jean Van Daem 04/08/08
      5.   What in G-d`s name does he mean? 11:58  |  DJ 04/08/08
      6.   Flappy-mouthed, self-important Israeli idiot 12:01  |  Clickfool 04/08/08
      7.   The words of a sage. 12:05  |  David 04/08/08
      8.   Why ? 12:08  |  Chris 04/08/08
      9.   All you wise macho 12:24  |  Zuleida Arabic woman 04/08/08
      10.   IDF CHIEF: WE KNOW SHALIT IS ALIVE 12:26  |  Marlene 04/08/08
      11.   Entebbe 12:32  |  kenneth 04/08/08
      12.   Israel releases Hamas captives, Hamas laughs 13:31  |  * BEN JABO 04/08/08
      13.   End the draft 14:21  |  Mrs. Fatso from USA 04/08/08
      14.   To Shalit`s Dad...Gaby knows...BUT.. 15:09  |  ali 04/08/08
      15.   #6 FROM THE MOUTHS OF BABES AND FOOLS 15:26  |  Ian 04/08/08
      16.   The idea being to con the Palestinians into moving him. 15:38  |  Chanalau, Tova 04/08/08
      17.   flappy Clcikfool 15:38  |  The Judge 04/08/08
      18.   shalit 15:40  |  J. B. 04/08/08
      19.   To Shalit`s Dad...Gaby knows...BUT.. 15:41  |  ali 04/08/08
      20.   @Clickfool 16:19  |  Ralph 04/08/08
      21.   If you know !!!!! 16:27  |  London 04/08/08
      22.   You know where Shalit is , Go and get him! 16:43  |  Big Sur 04/08/08
      23.   WHAT A BIG MOUTH CHIEF 17:27  |  indrajaya 04/08/08
      24.   well then get him 18:17  |  frenz 04/08/08
      25.   zuleida # 9 18:20  |  frenz 04/08/08
      26.   Shalit a good excuse to help Hamas destroy Abbas 19:20  |  Voice of Reason 04/08/08
      27.   potential solution 19:54  |  Nir 04/08/08
      28.   Chanalau - the satire / irony talkback was not about Shalit 19:57  |  ZISD 04/08/08
      29.   Zuleida Arabic woman 20:34  |  alan 04/08/08
      30.   Abu Mujahid`s affiliation 20:39  |  Jared 04/08/08
      31.   Zuleida Arabic woman is a man hiding in a skirt 20:39  |  Fred 04/08/08
      32.   Unfortunately, Clickfool #6 is so, so RIGHT! 20:45  |  S 04/08/08
      33.   poor, poor gilad 21:42  |  kay 04/08/08
      34.   what exactly is "respectable" about a 1000:1 deal? 21:58  |  McQueen 04/08/08
      35.   #32, S 22:16  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/08/08
      36.   Aggresive speech towards women 22:21  |  Zuleida Arabic woman 04/08/08
      37.   McQueen, 1000:1 is well a kind of expression of esteem for Shalit 22:22  |  christoph 04/08/08
      38.   These Palestinians know that Israelis are worth much more 22:38  |  x-ray 04/08/08
      39.   Why hasn`t israel assasinated the leaders? 23:07  |  Igor D. 04/08/08
      40.   NO FOOD-WATER-GASOLINE- 23:28  |  * BEN JABO 04/08/08
      41.   Free Shalit 23:41  |  Hilda 04/08/08
      42.   #6 00:03  |  Jane 05/08/08
      43.   Of Course Click, That Could Be... 00:08  |  Reader 05/08/08
      44.   Can you see THIS light? 00:12  |  Gideon Reader 05/08/08
      45.   Mrs. Fatso from USA # 13 The Draft (2nd Try) 00:42  |  Jeff Northridge 05/08/08
      46.   A warning to Hamas or one of the clans holding Shalit 02:08  |  PETER SM 05/08/08
      47.   Israelis - Way Too Much Talking and Far Too Little Doing 02:44  |  Tod Zuckerman 05/08/08
      48.   Shalit is a POW, Not a Hostage 05:31  |  Johan Odin 05/08/08
      49.   WHATA BLUNDER BY IDF`s CHIEF OF STAFF 06:26  |  Fortuna Benmayor 05/08/08
      50.   #48 John Odin - If he`s a POW 02:48  |  * BEN JABO 06/08/08
      51.   #To 16 The So-called Stockholm Syndrome,Is applied 16:16  |  KATHY 06/08/08
      52.   # 51 To ~!7 H.Tova ..Remember The British Abductees In Lebanon?? 22:50  |  K 06/08/08
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