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Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman meeting with Defense Minister Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv on Monday. (Reuters)
Last update - 21:24 12/05/2008
Olmert to Egypt: No Gaza truce if Shalit is not released
By Barak Ravid and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Israel, Egypt, Gaza

Israel will not agree to an Egyptian proposal for a truce with the Gaza Strip unless it includes the issue of arms smuggling and the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday.

Olmert told visiting Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman during their meeting in Jerusalem that the proposal could not be adopted in its current form.

A central hitch in a potential deal is the fate of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, an IDF soldier captured by Hamas militants in a cross-border raid in June 2006, and held in Gaza since then. Talks on a prisoner swap have stalled over disagreements about which prisoners Israel would release in return. Hamas wants hundreds of Palestinians currently held in Israeli prisons, some of them for murder, to be released.
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"Shalit is an integral element of the situation," Olmert spokesman Mark Regev said. "Hamas cannot expect Israel to sit by idly when they are holding a young serviceman hostage now for almost two years."

Noam Shalit, the captive soldier's father, insisted that any deal include his son. "I cannot imagine that the state of Israel would agree to any kind of arrangement or understandings without Gilad being freed," he told Israel Radio.

Shalit expressed support for Israel's proposal to condition the truce on the transfer of his son to the hands of Cairo, where he will be held until prisoner swap negotiations are complete. "Israel has already relinquished quite a lot on the prisoner issue, the way Israel often does, and Hamas needs to know that they can't have everything," Shalit told Haaretz.

According to the captive's father, Hamas' claim that Israel was holding back the negotiations was incorrect. "Hamas is the one that delayed the talks that are currently frozen," he said, and added that even if it is not possible to secure his son's freedom immediately within the framework of the cease-fire agreement, Egypt must set a clear timetable on the matter.

"We can reach an understanding on a cease-fire with a clear timetable stipulating that Gilad will be released within 30 to 60 days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners," he said.

Hamas officials said Israel was trying to torpedo the possibility of a truce. "Any new conditions are an attempt to sabotage [Suleiman's] efforts," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.

A Hamas spokesman in Gaza said that "Israel's demand to include the release of Gilad Shalit in a cease-fire deal is in effect a rejection of the truce. If Israel wants Shalit to be released, they must comply with his captors' demands." The spokesman added that Hamas will wait to hear from Suleiman regarding Israel's official stance, will examine the information and respond accordingly.

Suleiman did not endorse the Israeli condition, saying only indirect negotiations between Israel and Shalit's captors would continue.

Olmert told the visiting Egyptian envoy that the issue of arms smuggling in particular would distinguish between a temporary truce and sustainable calm. The prime minister asked Suleiman to pass along this message to Hamas officials.

"If Hamas wants Israel to call off its military operations," the Israeli officials told Suleiman, "Hamas must not only halt its attacks but also the arms smuggling that has allowed the group to turn itself from a ragtag militia into a well-armed force."

Olmert asked Suleiman for an Egyptian guarantee that no arms would be smuggled through the Gaza-Egypt border, the central conduit for weapons and contraband goods entering the territory, an official in Olmert's office said.

Hamas wants Israel to open Gaza's border crossings as part of a truce. Israel says that won't happen, but Regev said if a de facto truce is achieved it could be the beginning of a more positive dynamic that could change Israel's policy on the crossings.

Suleiman arrived in the region early Monday to present Cairo's proposal for the cease-fire. He met first with Barak in Tel Aviv and then later with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem.

After their meeting, Barak said that Israel would not be able to avoid a wide military operation in the Gaza Strip, unless Palestinian militants cease firing rockets and carrying out terror attack on Israelis.

"Israel will have to take broader action in the Gaza Strip if the firing of Qassam rockets and mortar bombs does not stop," he told Suleiman, according to a statement from the defense bureau.

The two met alone for 40 minutes and followed up their discussion with more than an hour of talks with their consultative teams.

Barak also told Suleiman that the truce deal should include the release of Shalit, who has been held captive in the Gaza Strip since June 2006. He also emphasized that Israel demands all weapons smuggling from Egypt to Gaza be stopped.

He also told Suleiman that Israel would continue to "reserve the right of freedom of action in the West Bank to ensure the security of Israeli citizens," the defense ministry statement said.

Suleiman said following his talks with Barak that he had "high expectations" that a cease-fire deal could be reached between Israel and Hamas Islamists controlling the Gaza Strip.

Suleiman is in Israel for a series of high-level meetings on the outcome of recent talks between representatives of Egypt and Hamas and the other Palestinian factions in the Strip.



Asked by reporters about his expectations, Suleiman held up his thumb in a gesture of optimism and replied in English: "High expectations." Barak said he hoped Suleiman's visit would "produce productive discussions."

In the Gaza Strip, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said he wished Suleiman success and called on Israel to "respond positively to the Egyptian efforts and to lift the siege and open the (border) crossings."

Hamas seized Gaza from Abbas's Fatah faction last June, prompting Israel to step up economic sanctions and Egypt to shut its frontier with the coastal enclave.

"We see our relationship with Egypt as one of the central foundations of regional stability, and a pillar of our foreign policy, and we are always eager to engage with the Egyptian government," Olmert spokesman Mark Regev said.

Olmert, Mubarak to meet 'within a few weeks'

Olmert is expected to visit Egypt in the coming weeks, where he will meet with President Hosni Mubarak to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip, the framework for a cease-fire agreement and the continuing negotiations with the Palestinians on the core issues of a permanent settlement.

Olmert's visit to Egypt was agreed to in principle during a conversation with Mubarak on April 30, before the Talansky Affair broke.

Mubarak had told Olmert that he is interested to talk in private about the situation in Gaza and the negotiations with the Palestinians, and the two agreed that the PM would visit Egypt in the wake of President George W. Bush's visit to Israel and the summit with the Arab heads of state at Sharm el-Sheikh next week.

According to the Egyptian proposal, Israel will agree to the opening of the Rafah crossing, and possibly other crossing points, and will cease military operations in the Gaza Strip. In return, Hamas will cease rocket and mortar attacks against Israel and other attacks from inside the Strip.

After a six-month period, Egypt will begin efforts to apply the agreement to the West Bank as well.

On Sunday morning, Olmert, Barak and Livni met to coordinate their views on the cease-fire proposal in the Gaza Strip, ahead of their individual meetings with Suleiman.

Suleiman is also expected to meet with Minister of Industry and Trade Eli Yishai, with whom he will discuss the Shalit case.

Hamas spokesmen said in recent days that the organization is expecting an Israeli agreement to the offer at hand.

Olmert is expected to stress during his meeting with Suleiman that the framework for the tahadiyeh, the calm Egypt is proposing, will be brought before the political-defense cabinet and will require its approval. As such, Israel will not immediately offer its response to Suleiman and the offer.

Political source: Israel won't flatly reject proposal
A senior political source said Sunday that Israel would not be able to flatly turn down the Egyptian proposal because it must not be seen as the party responsible for foiling the diplomatic effort. On the other hand, Israel will present Suleiman with a series of questions, as well as its reservations.

According to a political source, Olmert will tell Suleiman that Israel would like to learn whether the offer is only for a "time out" or a genuine calm - only then will it be able to formulate its position.

Israel will stress the following during the meetings with Suleiman:

a. In any agreement for calm in the Gaza Strip, the IDF will retain the freedom of action against the terrorist groups in the Strip.

b. The calm must include a complete cessation of rocket and terrorist attacks from the Gaza Strip, carried out by all groups.

c. There is a need to deal with the issue of smuggling of arms into the Gaza Strip and the growing strength of the terrorist groups.

d. Israel would like to explore the possibility of combining a deal for the release of Gilad Shalit in a package for a cease-fire.

During the cabinet meeting Sunday, Olmert said that Hamas is responsible for all activities in the Gaza Strip and that "the current reality there needs to change - either there will be calm or the State of Israel will act with such force that in the end there will be calm."

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      1.   In typical Israeli style 12:41  |  Natallie Durson 12/05/08
      2.   Israel has chiefs of little INTELLIGIENCE 12:51  |  sptz 12/05/08
      3.   israel wants something for nothing! Wants the right to continue 13:07  |  lakshmi 12/05/08
      4.   Natalie 13:40  |  Blue Cheese 12/05/08
      5.   No "cease fire" as long as Gilad Shalit is not at home!!! 13:45  |  Combat soldier 12/05/08
      6.   Hamas dictates and Israel accepts,that`s Barak`s touch 13:50  |  Absolute Sweden 12/05/08
      7.   The following is a pre-recorded message: 14:01  |  Dennie 12/05/08
      8.   To sptz # 3 - Goodbye Olmert..... 14:18  |  Dolly 12/05/08
      9.   A truce where one side is allowed to continue killing? 14:24  |  Andreas 12/05/08
      10.   OLMERT AGAIN? 14:28  |  arrabella 12/05/08
      11.   To Andreas # 9 - First to teach Palestinians 14:37  |  charlie 12/05/08
      12.   UNRWA demands investigation of Gaza killing 14:43  |  Ben Alofs 12/05/08
      13.   No deal with Hamas without the release of Shalit, and beyond, 14:46  |  Shuki 12/05/08
      14.   #9 Andreas 14:51  |  Yonatan 12/05/08
      15.   Their Will Be a Cease Fire When Hamas is Destroyed 14:51  |  Straight Talk 12/05/08
      16.   shut up barak,you are an embarrasment 14:58  |  chaim 12/05/08
      17.   Hamas will not take a deal 14:59  |  Ron 12/05/08
      18.   To arrabella # 10 - Enough of Olmert! 15:01  |  Natasha 12/05/08
      19.   Well, I guess one party will have to stop shooting first..... 15:17  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/05/08
      20.   Best way to Get Gaza Rockets to Stop 15:25  |  Steve 12/05/08
      21.   At least Olmert could go out in style 15:29  |  Aphemia 12/05/08
      22.   What is wrong with that? 15:34  |  Stranger 12/05/08
      23.   Swiss Dino 19 15:34  |  ChanahS 12/05/08
      24.   Hamas needs to pay for a deal 15:46  |  peter 12/05/08
      25.   Natalie Dirt son 15:51  |  ottomatik 12/05/08
      26.   Barak: IDF to keep hitting Gaza unless rockets stop 15:56  |  Natallie Durson 12/05/08
      27.   Not only smuggling must be ceased, but Gilad Shalit must be at 16:00  |  Dudi 12/05/08
      28.   The West Bank Must be included in any truce 16:03  |  *BEN JABO 12/05/08
      29.   Now I`ve read this thread 16:20  |  Rowan 12/05/08
      30.   Sounds very promising 16:37  |  Tosefta 12/05/08
      31.   #26 NUTallie - Israel needs a new plan 16:54  |  * BEN JABO 12/05/08
      32.   #28 IS ANOTHER FORGERY 16:58  |  * BEN JABO 12/05/08
      33.   # 1 thanks natallie for being so honest and telling us exactly 17:03  |  terrornator 12/05/08
      34.   blinded by the sand 17:06  |  Space 12/05/08
      35.   #26 NUTallie - Would you prefer 17:06  |  * BEN JABO 12/05/08
      36.   No Israeli will accept a deal without the release Gilad Shalit, 17:08  |  Avino`am Yaqir 12/05/08
      37.   Ben#12 re Mother of Six 17:09  |  Robert/Montreal 12/05/08
      38.   #18 Natasha, I believe it is Benjamon Netanyahu 17:14  |  Robert/Montreal 12/05/08
      39.   Swiss Dino #19 you go one way and then another why? 17:17  |  Robert/Montreal 12/05/08
      40.   #34 Space ( You must be from "Outer") 17:17  |  * BEN JABO 12/05/08
      41.   Free Gilad Shalit and then we can talk, but not before!!! 17:19  |  Combat soldier 12/05/08
      42.   andreas #9 if a truce was reached today,the pals would still 17:19  |  terrornator 12/05/08
      43.   # 23 Chanah S 17:20  |  Swiss (Dino) 12/05/08
      44.   #26 Yes Natalie (snicker ) you can come to replace Olmert. 17:23  |  Robert/Montreal 12/05/08
      45.   ben alofs # 12 sh8t happens during war,either quit shooting 17:23  |  terrornator 12/05/08
      46.   #29 Wow Rowan Atkinson ( Mr Bean) very astout 17:26  |  Robert/Montreal 12/05/08
      47.   Gaza must be part of Egypt and truce a part of it. 17:28  |  Sal 12/05/08
      48.   #34 Space, Jordan is the Pali Homeland 17:29  |  Robert/Montreal 12/05/08
      49.   It`s a deal, Israel 17:36  |  Clickfool 12/05/08
      50.   swiss #19,still "pretending" to "be" a "neutral" "voice" in this 17:38  |  terrornator 12/05/08
      51.   Israel will make demands meant to kill ceasefire 17:38  |  Natallie Durson 12/05/08
      52.   natallie #26 your right israels new plan should include carpet 17:41  |  terrornator 12/05/08
      53.   #43 Swiss Dino, Grab a chocllate and a seat 17:42  |  Robert/Montreal 12/05/08
      54.   space #34,you need to tell the pals the west bank and gaza 17:48  |  terrornator 12/05/08
      55.   Considerations for a cease fire 17:49  |  Tosefta 12/05/08
      56.   #52 Natalie Durson Queen of the Palis 17:49  |  Robert/Montreal 12/05/08
      57.   Sounds very promising 17:50  |  Tosefta 12/05/08
      58.   Israel`s proposals are reasonable. 17:51  |  R 12/05/08
      59.   hI Natalie 17:53  |  *BEN JABO 12/05/08
      60.   terrornator #52 could you ask Natalie.... 17:57  |  Robert/Montreal 12/05/08
      61.   #40 BEN JABO 18:00  |  Space 12/05/08
      62.   Sorry, Durson, but there really is no Santa 18:01  |  Joe Sittizen 12/05/08
      63.   #48 Robert 18:07  |  Space 12/05/08
      64.   To Robert/Montreal # 38 - Natanyahu...... 18:11  |  Natasha 12/05/08
      65.   #59 FAKER is using my name again 18:12  |  * BEN JABO