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Israel's linkage of Gaza cease-fire, Shalit deal angers Egyptian mediators By Avi Issacharoff, Barak Ravid, Yanir Yagna and Anshel Pfeffer Prime Minister Ehud Olmert intends to bring before the cabinet for its approval tomorrow a demand that conditions a cease-fire deal on the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. Olmert updated Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on his position and stressed that Israel would not agree to a different arrangement for a cease-fire deal. Israel's demands regarding Shalit have angered the authorities in Cairo, who had hoped to finalize a deal in the next few days. Advertisement Olmert stressed yesterday that he had informed Mubarak of his view after Defense Minister Ehud Barak assumed the opposite position with Egyptian mediators. Olmert believes that if the cabinet decides to accept his precondition that any cease-fire in the Gaza Strip be contingent upon Shalit's release, then Barak will be unable to strike a different deal with the Egyptians. "We will bring our own proposal for a framework [deal]," sources close to Olmert said yesterday. "If the defense minister or anyone else has a different proposal, let them bring it and we will see if it will be approved." The prime minister and his aides were upset by the behavior of Barak, who had granted interviews to the media days prior to the election, declaring that a resolution of the Shalit case was close at hand. Barak had warned that for this to happen, difficult decisions must be made. Olmert and his aides attributed to the defense minister a series of media reports on a framework agreement for Shalit's release, as well as reports that the cease-fire agreement would not include the soldier's release. During a visit in southern Israel yesterday, Olmert made a statement which targeted Barak. "I have insisted from day one that there will be no cease-fire before Shalit is release," Olmert said. "I did not speak of this in public, and I asked in every possible way: Do not talk about Gilad Shalit in public. Contrary to other people, I thought that it should not be talked about." "Every day I witnessed dramatic appearances of individuals on television talking about the need for decisions. I thought that it was appropriate for whoever carrying the supreme responsibility in the State of Israel to tell the public the truth," he added. Olmert also said that he had called the Egyptian president to clarify Israel's stance on Shalit's release. The prime minister hinted that Barak had given Egypt mixed messages. "I spoke with the highest officials in Egypt so that there will be no misunderstanding," Olmert said. "I said that we will not reopen the border crossings [in the Gaza Strip] and assist Hamas so long as Gilad Shalit is in their brutal prison. When Gilad is home, we will be ready to discuss other matters." Egyptian President Mubarak said yesterday that his country would continue the mediation efforts between the two sides despite setbacks. "The release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is a separate issue and cannot be linked to the truce," Mubarak said while meeting in Bahrain with the country's leader, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. Meanwhile, the deputy head of the Hamas politburo in Damascus, Musa Abu Marzuk, said yesterday the final outcome of the cease-fire talks would become clear in two or three more days. He said that if Israel wanted Shalit returned, it had to release Palestinian prisoners to their homes, hinting that Israel had insisted on releasing them outside the Palestinian Authority. Arab sources reported yesterday that Hamas had already agreed to the Egyptian cease-fire proposal and to Cairo's conditions - namely that the border crossings would not be fully opened before Shalit's release. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Calm before the storm Obama officials meet U.S. Jews to explain their Durban II policy. Apple of their eye Israel resumes its annual shipment of Golan apples to Syria.

Read & React Is Israel assassinating Iran nuclear scientists? Responses: 94 Bradley Burston: Sure the Israeli right won? Peace lost? Look closer Responses: 47 Barak tells IDF: Iran nukes are an existential threat to Israel Responses: 31 Akiva Eldar: A rightist coalition will be on collision course with Obama from day one Responses: 45 Yitzhak Laor: Left's demise began with support for Barak's war on Palestinians Responses: 12 'Palestinian Authority strongman once called Lieberman key to peace' Responses: 15 More Headlines 23:00 IDF: Hamas seized unexploded ordnance fired during Gaza op 01:10 U.S. ex-envoy to Israel: Netanyahu-Lieberman gov't is 'bad combination' for U.S. 23:45 Assad: Gaza offensive won't derail our peace talks with Israel 21:37 Shalit family: Gilad can be saved - don't turn him into Ron Arad 2 18:17 Is Israel assassinating Iran nuclear scientists? 22:02 Obama officials meet U.S. Jews to explain their Durban II policy 01:33 Key U.S. Jewish groups praise Obama's economic stimulus plan 02:07 Livni: Likud can't buy Kadima with promises of ministerial jobs 23:32 'Say 'nyet' to Lieberman,' leftist U.S. Jews urge Kadima, Likud 20:04 Israel resumes annual shipment of Golan apples to Syria 21:57 Colombia frees 11 Israelis jailed over alleged drug-for-sex deal 14:40 Report: Iran seeking Russian missiles to repel Israeli assault 20:56 Tennis Channel boycotts Dubai event after Israel's Peer barred 21:34 UN watchdog: Iran not cooperating fully with probe of its nukes 21:19 Hamas leader Meshal: No Shalit deal before Gaza truce 08:49 ANALYSIS / A rightist coalition will be on collision course with Obama from day one 18:46 Lawyer guilty of Holocaust cash fraud to be jailed at once due to flight risk 23:01 Labor No. 2: Neither Netanyahu nor Livni could forge coalition 21:17 Shas chief Yishai: Israel must free Jews jailed for nationalistic crimes 13:06 Majadele: Arabs likely to quit Labor if Barak remains leader 17:38 Egyptian army conducts series of war games on Sinai Peninsula Previous Editions Select Day 17 feb 16 feb 15 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 09 feb 08 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb

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