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Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Aboul Gheit in Cairo on Thursday. (Reuters) Egypt: IDF Gaza operation may harm efforts to free Shalit By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Gilad Shalit, Gaza Strip  Abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit is alive and being treated well by his captors, but an Israeli operation in the Gaza Strip may hurt efforts to bargain for his release, Egypt's foreign minister told Haaretz Thursday. Ahmed Aboul Gheit also warned Israel that the situation in Gaza "might get out of hand" and that Iran is "interfering in Arab affairs." Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni landed in Cairo Thursday and met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Omar Suleiman, the head of the country's intelligence service and Gheit. She told them Israel will not continue to restrain itself from responding to the barrage of rockets launched by Gazan militants for long. Advertisement Shalit was high on the agenda in all of Livni's meetings but Thursday Gheit admitted that Egyptian talks on the issue have collapsed. "The situation has slided again to a confrontation," Gheit said. "We are hoping that both parties would restrain their actions. Hence they would allow us to build and to establish that situation where by we can bring an end to the tension, then to restore the quiet and then we would work on Gilad Shalit anew." Gheit said the security situation was linked to talks regarding a prisoner swap that would entail the release of Shalit. A military operation by the IDF would be hazardous to such a process , he said. "He is part of a bigger and more general problem between Hamas and Israel," Gheit said, referring to Shalit. "My understanding from our own intelligence is he is okay and well treated." Gheit did not talk about the possibility that an aggressive Israeli operation may spill over or affect Egypt as well. "It might get out of hand," he explained. "We are warning both that it is better not to clash militarily. Help us to help you. [An IDF operation] will be bad because people would suffer on both sides and then the possibility of reconciling differences and of finding lasting solutions will diminish." Egypt's foreign minister said he understood Israeli anger over the constant indiscriminate firing of rockets at civilian targets. He added that Israel was partly to blame for the renewal of hostilities after the six months relative calm of the ceasefire, tying the Palestinians militants attacks to an IDF operation carried out a few weeks before the truce ended in which at least three armed Gazans were killed. "It was the killing of some Palestinian activists in Gaza more then a month ago when Israel said that there is a tunnel that will be used for a military operation," he said. "So we think that you need to not provoke them and they need to not provoke you." The IDF said the operation Gheit referred to was undertaken because of fears that militants were on the verge of completing a tunnel they would use to try and abduct another IDF soldier. Ties between Hamas and Egypt have strained because of the Islamic group's refusal to take part in talks over securing a truce. Relations between Cairo and Iran have even further soured due to Tehran's incitement in Gaza. Gheit Thursday pointed a blaming finger for the situation toward Iran, who he agreed was "absolutely" playing a negative role in the Gaza Strip. While Gheit remained calm for most of the interview when asked about the issue of arms smuggling from Egypt into Gaza he lost his temper. "No arms are going through Egypt to Gaza," the diplomat snapped before allowing the interviewer to complete his question. Related articles: Egypt trying to use Shalit as pawn in Palestinian reconciliation Egypt warns Hamas: Stop obstructing Shalit deal Barak to Mubarak: Egypt is central factor in return of Shalit Bookmark to del.icio.us   'shock and awe' Israel's strike on Gaza is the closest thing there is to a war with Hamas. Looking for support As it confronts terror, Israel expects understanding of the international community.   1.   Harm one individual? 04:46  |  Alfredo 26/12/08   2.   No arms are going through Egypt to Gaza? What a big LIE!!! 05:02  |  Observer 26/12/08   3.   STUPID, NOTHING IS GOING TO BRING SHALIT 05:55  |  20x20 26/12/08   4.   Where are the weapons coming from? 06:09  |  Great White North 26/12/08   5.   Gaza operatinon could cause change in Egypt 09:24  |  spyguy 26/12/08   6.   Those who speak glibly of just one - what if it was your son? 09:35  |  lily 26/12/08   7.   you are WAY OFF, "spyguy" 10:27  |  obsever 26/12/08   8.   the diplomat 10:27  |  ron 26/12/08   9.   Gilad Shalit has been in captivity for over 900 days! No efforts 10:35  |  Jehudah Ben-Israel 26/12/08   10.   gaza op 10:41  |  daniel mostrel 26/12/08   11.   Gilad Shalit is 1 soilder what about the children their schools 10:53  |  zionist forever 26/12/08   12.   Paralyzed. 12:15  |  Vital 26/12/08   13.   horrible choice 12:28  |  sharon 26/12/08   14.   For Sharon #13 13:17  |  Clickfool 26/12/08   15.   Clickfool 16:31  |  sharon 26/12/08   16.   #5 spyguy 21:10  |  Observer-Ca 26/12/08   17.   #7 observer 21:24  |  Observer-Ca 26/12/08

Read & React At least 225 dead, over 780 hurt in IAF Gaza strikes Responses: 228 Palestinian rocket accidentally kills 2 young Gaza girls Responses: 131 ANALYSIS / A hard look at Hamas' capabilities Responses: 95 Israelis voice horror at rejection of Arab child from Jewish daycare Responses: 124 Report: Iran preps humanitarian aid ship to Gaza Strip Responses: 96 Benjamin Weinthal: Berlin conference dangerously equates anti-Semitism with Islamophobia Responses: 78 More Headlines 01:36 IDF mobilizes tanks, reinforces troops along Gaza border 01:33 After IAF strike kills 225 in Gaza, Hamas chief vows third Intifada has come 00:24 Disinformation, secrecy and lies: How the Gaza offensive came about 21:41 ANALYSIS / IAF strike on Gaza is Israel's version of 'shock and awe' 00:27 One Israeli killed, 4 hurt as Palestinian rockets hit Negev home 21:01 Bradley Burston / The worst anti-Israel charges you'll hear in wartime 23:36 IN PICTURES / The Gaza Strip under attack 21:43 U.S. demands Hamas end terrorist acts, urges Israel to avoid civilian casualties 22:48 Israeli Arabs react with violence to IDF operations in Gaza 21:45 Israel to mount emergency international PR effort in wake of Gaza campaign 21:46 Palestinian rocket accidentally kills 2 young Gaza girls 07:26 Report: Iran preps humanitarian aid ship to Gaza Strip 11:48 Peres: Israel has no plans to enter Gaza, won't ignite regional war 10:20 Arab journalist blasts Egyptian FM for failing to censure Livni Gaza threats 22:23 Israeli Arab party meets leftist Palestinian faction led by convicted terrorist 01:40 Elie Wiesel charity vows to fight on despite being swindled in Madoff affair Previous Editions Select Day 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 22 dec 21 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 15 dec 14 dec

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