Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., December 23, 2007 Tevet 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 21:58 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Hanukkah

Abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. (Archives) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 16:39 23/12/2007 Barak denies intelligence failure on abducted IDF soldier Shalit By Barak Ravid, Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff, and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Gilad Shalit, Gaza Strip  Defense Minister Ehud Barak denied Sunday that Israel's intelligence agencies have failed on the issue of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. "There is a great amount of effort being made on this issue, and the information does not always lead to a [military] operation," Barak told the weekly cabinet meeting. "It's true that there isn't enough information to bring him home, but we are constantly working on the issue with utmost determination." Shalit has been held in the Gaza Strip since his abduction at the hands of several militant groups, including Hamas, in a cross-border raid in June 2006. Advertisement Industry, Trade, and Labor Minister Eli Yishai said during the meeting that, "until Shalit returns home, Israel has not done enough." "Israel must act on all fronts, including negotiating with Hamas solely on the Shalit issue, because when it comes to results Israel has failed," he added. Cabinet Minister Ami Ayalon on Sunday said that Israeli intelligence had failed by not gathering the means to secure Shalit's release. "We could not carry out a military operation to release Shalit because of an intelligence failure," he said. "The intelligence community did not gather enough information to carry out such an operation." Barak is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Sharm el-Sheikh on Wednesday, and the talks are expected to focus, among other things, on Shalit's release. In his one-day visit, Barak will also meet with intelligence chief Omar Suleiman and Defense Minister Mohammed Tantawi. An Egyptian source told Haaretz over the weekend that there has been no breakthrough in the efforts to secure Shalit's release. According to the source, some basic-level talks on a prisoner exchange are taking place but that there has thus far been no change in the sides' positions. He termed Barak's upcoming visit to Egypt "very important." Ismail Radwan, a spokesman for Hamas, told Haaretz that the Shalit talks are at an impasse, and reiterated the organization's assertion that there has been no progress toward securing the abducted soldier's release. Radwan said that Israel knows exactly what needs to be done in order to reach a deal, but that it appears Jerusalem is not interested in such steps. Defense officials in Israel also confirmed that there has been no significant progress in the talks. Egypt recently revived its involvement in the indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which was halted some three months before the recent U.S.-sponsored Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland. Cairo revived the efforts in the wake of the summit. The basic principles of a deal were agreed upon by the sides in early 2007, and include the initial release of 350 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, followed by the release of approximately 100 more. The sides have yet to agree, however, on which prisoners Israel would release. Israel is willing to free some 40 of the prisoners included in a list handed over by Hamas, but has rejected the rest due to their responsibility for severe terror attacks. Israel is considering relaxing its requirements, however, in order to allow it to agree to release more of the prisoners on the list. Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, said he too has no new information on his son. "On Tuesday they will celebrate Christmas, and my son will have completed a year and a half in captivity," he said. "In terms of the final result - the result is nothing." Related articles: Hamas rejects Red Cross request to see abducted soldier Gilad Shalit Red Cross: Hamas isn't ruling out handing over letter from Shalit Shalit's family 'celebrates' second birthday in captivity Bookmark to del.icio.us Bye bye Borat Sacha Baron Cohen will reportedly retire his much-loved alter-egos Borat and Ali G. Divided reformists Reform head Eric Yoffie slams a vote on Jerusalem by the Conference of Presidents.   1.   Hamas A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off 12:38  |  dyinglikeflies 23/12/07   2.   Interviews 14:32  |  Arie 23/12/07   3.   so barak when will the boy be home? 14:59  |  victor hardman 23/12/07   4.   As you can understand 15:58  |  dovale 23/12/07   5.   Playing Poker with Hamas. 16:00  |  Stephen. 23/12/07   6.   Intelligence is only perfect 16:11  |  Mark Lincoln 23/12/07   7.   Shalit is safe and alive, Wounded, he could have died 16:21  |  Fred Omran Locke 23/12/07   8.   Shalit is eating while Gaza babies starve. 16:23  |  Fred Omran Locke 23/12/07   9.   Military, political human decisions = Shalit?s release 18:34  |  H.H.M 23/12/07   10.   Intelligence is.. 18:39  |  Albert Seligman 23/12/07   11.   Freddy 18:41  |  Albert Seligman 23/12/07   12.   Gaza babies starve 18:51  |  victor 23/12/07   13.   #8 - if Gaza babies are starving, blame Hamas 19:06  |  Steve 23/12/07   14.   Shalit`s return 19:13  |  Isca 23/12/07   15.   Intelligence Failure of the Ruling Junta`s Low IQ 19:54  |  Straight Talk 23/12/07   16.   8 Release Shalit, stop Kassams, get plenty of food for all 20:06  |  Rob 23/12/07   17.   Cpl. Gilad Shalit 21:04  |  Rozz 23/12/07

Today Online U.S. plans confidential appraisal of Israeli and PA peace moves Responses: 189 Reform head: U.S. Jews mustn't oppose compromise on J'lem Responses: 56 Israel expands plans for new homes in E. J'lem, W. Bank Responses: 47 Meron Benvenisti: Israeli Arabs must stop mourning Nakba Responses: 51 Security cabinet okays funding for 'Iron Dome' rocket defense system Responses: 30 Rosner's Domain Ron Paul insists: 'Israel encourages Americans to go into Iran' Support Israel, or support Jerusalem? (WTR) Poll: A cease-fire with Hamas, good or bad? Romney to Evangelicals, like Messianic Jews to Jews (WTR) More Headlines 18:22 Security cabinet okays funding for 'Iron Dome' rocket defense system 16:35 Ehud Olmert rejects Hamas' offer of cease-fire in Gaza Strip 21:19 Gaza's Christians keep low Christmas profile after activist slain 21:55 Panel postpones budget vote as gov't MKs balk at stipend cuts 21:49 Immigration to Israel in 2007 down 6%, at its lowest since 1989 20:48 Report: German man jailed for teaching his dog to perform Nazi salute 19:05 Think tank: Israeli Arabs should take part in negotiations with PA 20:36 Environment Ministry seeks to lower target for recycling of bottles 12:00 U.S. plans confidential appraisal of Israeli and PA peace moves 17:35 Former Mofaz aide sentenced to six months in jail over sexual assault Previous Editions Select Day 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec 14 dec 13 dec 12 dec 11 dec 10 dec 09 dec

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