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Gilad Shalit. (Reproduction)
Last update - 00:00 14/06/2008
Report: Israel won't condition Gaza cease-fire on Gilad Shalit's release
By Haaertz Service and Reuters
Tags: Hamas, Egypt, Gilad Shalit 

nto the coastal territory were critical parts of any agreement.

"Stopping terror is an immediate aim," he said. The issue of the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was also central but would be dealt with separately.
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"We are holding discussions with the Egyptians and we have the reaction, which I will not detail. We will know the results in the near term," Gilad said.

An Egyptian source said that Israel has agreed not to condition a cease-fire with Hamas in the Gaza Strip on the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, Al-Sharq Al-Awsat reported on Saturday.

According to the London-based Arabic newspaper, the source said that Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman promised Israel that the release of Shalit, who has been held captive since his abduction from the Gaza border in June 2006, would top the agenda following the declaration of a cease-fire.

Gilad met Suleiman earlier this week to discuss the cease-fire initiative.

In an interview with Israel radio on Saturday, Gilad refused to verify or deny the report, but said Shalit remained a key issue in the talks.

Egypt has been working for the last two months to secure a deal between Hamas and Israel that would guarantee calm in the coastal territory.

Israel, which refuses to negotiate directly with Hamas, has been pressing for progress on the Shalit case and an end to Hamas weapons smuggling as conditions for a truce.

Hamas has demanded Israel ease its blockade on Gaza by opening border crossings in return for calm. The group has spurned Western demands to recognize Israel and end violence.

"The Palestinian people agree fundamentally to discuss the issue of calm so that the crossings are reopened and aggression is stopped but [Israel] is refusing to commit to reopen the crossings and end the siege," Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said.

A delegation of Hamas officials from Damascus will arrive in Cairo to hear Israel's position shortly and the Egyptians are also hoping to include leaders from Gaza, a Hamas source said.

Israel decided this week to put off a large-scale invasion of the Gaza Strip in order to give the talks a chance to succeed.

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      1.   our craven miserable government 10:51  |  Linichka 14/06/08
      2.   Can you imagine what Hamas would ask for Shalit during ceasefire? 11:50  |  S 14/06/08
      3.   Buy one, get one free? 12:06  |  Natallie Durson 14/06/08
      4.   Didn`t I hear Ayalon saying on radio, 12:20  |  MR 14/06/08
      5.   Hamas has always said that the release of Shalit is a separate 12:28  |  lakshmi 14/06/08
      6.   Why is Israel negotiating a cease-fire with Hamas? 13:01  |  Shalom 14/06/08
      7.   Pray for new elections to save Israel! 13:03  |  Antony 14/06/08
      8.   The meaning of a ceasefire. 13:18  |  Jean Van Daem 14/06/08
      9.   Look at the Funny Picture of the Doper at the tope of the page 13:34  |  POP 14/06/08
      10.   Why does Israel HATE Gilad & Peace ?? 13:40  |  POP 14/06/08
      11.   To Shalom # - A Temporary Cease-fire ...? 13:47  |  Dolly 14/06/08
      12.   lakshmi #5 13:52  |  S 14/06/08
      13.   No Change of IDF military pressure... 14:16  |  The Archives 14/06/08
      14.   CRAZEES RUN THE ASYLUMS HERE 14:22  |  dav zee 14/06/08
      15.   Failed Israel Government Go! 14:25  |  H.H.M. 14/06/08
      16.   The bottom line will always be....... 14:25  |  The Archives 14/06/08
      17.   news already denied by Israel goverment ! 14:28  |  alberto cohen 14/06/08
      18.   12 S, I hope not,but then again I won`t be wandering around their 14:36  |  lakshmi 14/06/08
      19.   Haaretz Censor have you popped your cork? 14:39  |  Ramius 14/12/08
      20.   Disgusted (end) 14:53  |  Free Gilad Shalit 14/06/08
      21.   POP AND "FUNNY DOPERS" 14:58  |  Brant 14/06/08
      22.   If this proves true Olmert must be hanged 15:25  |  Alim 14/06/08
      23.   #13 ISreal holds many political and civilians prisoner 15:49  |  khaled 14/06/08
      24.   Its not the goverment...its isreal overall thats dying 15:51  |  khaled 14/06/08
      25.   Foolish: now Schalit will be a SHARED hostage of Israel and Hamas 16:15  |  r 14/06/08
      26.   Nothing is more important 16:20  |  Alex 14/06/08
      27.   1 prisoner of war 16:42  |  Dinki Di 14/06/08
      28.   Conditions for Peace 16:52  |  DoubleClick 14/06/08
      29.   ceasefire without shalit return 16:53  |  mostrel 14/06/08
      30.   Deal or no Deal 18:38  |  Palestinian 14/06/08
      31.   No cease fire without Shalit we can broke them out 18:45  |  Daniel 14/06/08
      32.   Olmert, your days are going ,I will not fight for you 19:52  |  soldier 14/06/08
      33.   Kadima do something or you desapear...be sure 20:05  |  The Dumbite Kid 14/06/08
      34.   Get rid of the Left 20:20  |  Frank 14/06/08
      35.   They Want To Hold Shalit "Also" As A Card Against Israel 20:30  |  Joseph.E 14/06/08
      36.   # 10 POPups Addicted to the Vice of Lies . 21:02  |  Joseph.E 14/06/08
      37.   to win a war you must kill the enemy 22:36  |  Nick 14/06/08
      38.   To Nick...they are not our enemies, just people with bad lucky... 16:08  |  soldier 15/06/08
      39.   Palestinian, two states or not? 19:00  |  DesMnsDave 15/06/08
      40.   Another concession to terror 12:54  |  David J Feiger 16/06/08
      41.   Shalit 22:47  |  Chaim 17/06/08
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