Diskin and top negotiator clash over prisoner release criteria<br><br> - Haaretz

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Mon., December 31, 2007 Tevet 22, 5768

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		Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin.

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Last update - 10:45 31/12/2007

Diskin and top negotiator clash over prisoner release criteria

By Barak Ravid

Tags: prisoners, Shin Bet

Shin Bet head Yuval Diskin on Sunday warned against relaxing criteria for releasing Palestinian prisoners in return for kidnapped Israel Defense Forces soldiers.

In a special meeting with cabinet ministers and security officials, Diskin lashed out against Ofer Dekel, Israel's chief negotiator for securing the release of abducted soldiers, claiming Dekel backed criteria that were too lenient.

"Diskin wanted to keep the criteria as they are because when they [the Palestinian prisoners] get out of jail, he'll have to deal with them," a government source said. "On the other side, Dekel is interested in reaching a deal and believes criteria should be eased."

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During the meeting, Dekel's stance was apparently backed by IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, the source said. An attempt by Vice Premier Haim Ramon to broker a compromise between the two camps failed and the meeting was adjourned without reaching an agreement.

The row erupted over a new proposal Israel had received from Hamas over a possible swap, a government source said. The source refused to elaborate on the details but said they concerned criteria for prisoners with "blood on their hands."

In addition to Diskin, Dekel, Ashkenazi and Ramon, participants at the meeting included Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Cabinet Minister Ami Ayalon, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann and Public Security Minister Avi Dichter. Another meeting is scheduled to take place over the next few days.

The Shin Bet said it "regretted that some camps with vested interests wanted to cause bad blood between the sides. The Shin Bet's stance will be presented at a closed forum and not to the media."

Earlier Sunday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert reacted to the killing of two off-duty IDF soldiers who were shot dead on Friday by Palestinian militants while hiking near the West Bank city of Hebron.

Olmert said Israel cannot make concessions to the Palestinians such as lifting roadblocks unless the Palestinian Authority first took measures to quash terrorist attacks against Israelis.

"We don't plan on compromising [over security], it will be an integral part of any negotiations with the PA," he said.

Earlier, Shas party Chairman Eli Yishai said the shootings meant that the talks with the Palestinians should be postponed.

During the meeting, Defense Minister Ehud Barak eulogized the killed soldiers, commending them for their bravery and love of the land. Barak said Israel's preemptive strikes and targeted killings in the Gaza Strip have yielded positive results and vowed they will continue.

Olmert also commented on the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

"She was killed by Islamic terrorists we are all too familiar with," he said.

Related articles:

Don't let Diskin scare you

Clearing out the jails

Abducted soldier's mother: Politicians seeking clout off our sons' backs

Arab blood on their hands

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1.	The cynical easing of criteria	09:10	\|	david	31/12/07

2.	Israels terrorist past	09:46	\|	Natallie Durson	31/12/07

3.	look at the bright side	10:24	\|	rm	31/12/07

4.	Fact of the 21st century: Israel will not always get its own way	10:26	\|	Natallie Durson	31/12/07

5.	They relax criteria so to release Shalit so to distract us from	11:32	\|	Joseph E .	31/12/07

6.	DURSON	15:13	\|	DANNY	31/12/07

7.	#2more inaccuries from nutullie again	15:31	\|	v ictor hardman	31/12/07

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