Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., June 25, 2008 Sivan 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:05 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Abducted IDF corporal Gilad Shalit. Last update - 11:05 23/06/2008 Shalit deal stuck on 100 prisoners demanded by Hamas By Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondents Tags: Israel, Hamas, Gaza Strip  The High Court of Justice is set Monday to rule on a petition by the parents of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit. The Shalits hope to prevent the government from opening the crossings into the Gaza Strip. Defense officials say they believe the court will opt against interfering with the government's plans. Reporting on the talks for the soldier's release, the Palestinian daily Al-Ayam reported meanwhile that the current snag in negotiations concerns 100 Palestinian prisoners whose release Hamas is demanding. Israel has reportedly agreed with Hamas on the number of prisoners to be released, but not their identity. Advertisement The dispute, according to Al-Ayam, concerns 100 of the 350 prisoners that Israel is expected to release in the first phase of the deal. Upon reviewing the petition Sunday, the court ordered the state to keep the border crossings to Gaza closed until noon today. The temporary injunction was issued to give the government time to clarify the terms of the Gaza cease-fire. The petition - filed against the State of Israel, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak - asks the High Court to instruct the government to explain why the truce between Israel and Hamas was not conditioned on Shalit's release. Since Shalit's abduction in June 2006, his parents have met many times with government and security officials, including six times with Olmert and three with Barak. According to the petition, during these meetings the Shalit family was promised that any cease-fire agreement would include Gilad's release. The parents say that keeping the crossings closed is Israel's only means of pressuring Hamas to release their son, and that Israel should hold on to the option of opening the crossings as its only effective bargaining chip vis-a-vis Hamas in talks for Shalit's release. The court also instructed the cabinet to brief Shalit's parents and tell them how the talks have progressed so far, and why the government believes it should open the crossings without first securing Shalit's release. Last night Amos Gilad, who is handling talks for Shalit's release as head of the Defense Ministry's political department, met with the Shalits to tell them Israel would not cede any leverage on Hamas by opening the crossings, and that the move would "improve the atmosphere" between the two sides. It would thus benefit efforts to bring home the corporal. Olmert is scheduled to discuss the matter with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak later this week. Olmert is expected to travel to Cairo for the meeting along with Ofer Dekel, the government's chief coordinator for prisoner deals. In his review of the post-cease-fire situation at the weekly cabinet meeting, Yuval Diskin, head of the Shin Bet security service, said the price Hamas is demanding for Shalit is not expected to drop following Israel's cease-fire agreement with the organization. Diskin told the ministers that "Hamas does not regard the deal for Shalit's release as part of the truce." Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann criticized the current deal, calling the fact that opening the crossings is not conditioned on Shalit's release "systemic lunacy." Defense Minister Barak said efforts to win Shalit's release might fare better during a period of quiet than during fighting, but said at the cabinet meeting that making concessions to Hamas, such as opening the borders, was not likely to be the move that brings him home. "Those who think we can bring about Shalit's release by opening or closing the crossings are harboring illusions," he said. Barak Ravid contributed to this article. Related articles: Israel: There will be no Shalit deal unless Hamas is flexible Abducted IDF soldier writes to parents from captivity in Gaza 'We have no ray of light' Noam Shalit: Gaza siege mustn't be lifted until Gilad freed Israeli sources: Shalit letter is Hamas 'goodwill' gesture Bookmark to del.icio.us   Gilad's tale VIDEO: U.S. kids read abducted soldier's story of co-existence. Leaving Torah behind Study finds religion is not very important to American Jews.   1.   I FEEL FOR THE SHALIT`S;MERT CANNOT BE TRUSTED ON WHAT HE SPEAKS 05:53  |  glenna 23/06/08   2.   Release them all 06:27  |  Jared 23/06/08   3.   It`s almost become too painful to watch... 06:28  |  Ian 23/06/08   4.   Day 5 - Politicians Held Hostage 07:30  |  Mark of Lewiston 23/06/08   5.   HOW racist of Hamas.1000 Beloved of Allah equated to one 07:41  |  PETER SM 23/06/08   6.   Releasing 1000`s means that kidnapping pays 07:58  |  redmike 23/06/08   7.   1,000 prisoners in exchange for Shalit 08:00  |  Steve Real 23/06/08   8.   Olmert is a shame and disgrace to Israel. His legacy will be depl 08:36  |  Stellar 23/06/08   9.   Let`s Pray 08:44  |  Aaron 23/06/08   10.   1Israeli = 1000 Palestinians 08:56  |  Dan 23/06/08   11.   Politics is not a matter of heart but of brains! 08:56  |  Jean Van Daem 23/06/08   12.   1000 to 1? 08:56  |  Natallie Durson 23/06/08   13.   Bringing the captive soldier home. 08:58  |  sandra chitayat 23/06/08   14.   Peter SM 09:40  |  KMS 23/06/08   15.   Cut all utilities to Gaza, ALL 09:47  |  peter 23/06/08   16.   No soldier will be forsaken or abandoned 10:16  |  Free Gilad Shalit 23/06/08   17.   1000:1 applies to attacks also then 10:18  |  Amir 23/06/08   18.   1000:1 applies to attacks also then 10:18  |  Amir 23/06/08   19.   OLMERT MUST GET OUT Before any further Steps.... 10:38  |  The Threadmill 23/06/08   20.   Let the Philistines be aware 10:51  |  rondi 23/06/08   21.   Natalie Durson 10:57  |  Dutch 23/06/08   22.   A nation gets the leadership they deserve 11:12  |  Natallie Durson 23/06/08   23.   barbaric? 11:35  |  Fadi Hirz 23/06/08   24.   the shalit family has suffered far too much 11:36  |  meir 23/06/08   25.   KMS Actually Hitler killed Jews whether Germans got killed or not 11:37  |  PETER SM 23/06/08   26.   Defining the goal 11:40  |  A mother 23/06/08   27.   Fadi Hirz #23 Ask your Arab friends why... 13:53  |  Free Gilad Shalit 23/06/08   28.   To #27 20:37  |  Fadi Hirz 23/06/08   29.   #23 An insight to the value of life vs those who would take it 05:40  |  DesMnsDave 24/06/08   30.   Fadi Hirz #28 12:29  |  Free Gilad Shalit 24/06/08   31.   Durson`s rule: applied to the Palestinians 08:12  |  Joe Sittizen 25/06/08

Read & React Cabinet to vote Sun. on Hezbollah deal, says wife of abducted soldier Responses: 273 Editorial: We must pay the high price for the return of Gilad Shalit Responses: 106 Gaza truce shaken as four Qassams slam in Negev Responses: 246 Poll: 77% of Israeli Arabs would rather live in Israel than in any other country Responses: 233 Border Policeman dies from self-inflicted shot at Sarkozy farewell Responses: 152 Rosner's Domain Guest: Not going to war in Gaza - erroneous choice Religion is not very important to American Jews Al Hura not working? Tell me something I don't know (WTR) Poll: exchange deal with Hezbollah, good or bad? Why do non-Jewish Americans support Israel? More Headlines 08:18 PM, Barak strike deal putting off Knesset vote for dissolution 08:26 Barak orders Gaza crossings sealed in response to Qassams 08:34 Olmert wavering ahead of Sunday's cabinet vote on prisoner swap 08:38 ANALYSIS / Olmert, Barak fire at each other, then cry on other's shoulder 08:42 Negotiator heading back to Cairo for indirect talks on Shalit 08:46 Attempted coup splits Hamas military wing in two 05:54 Who will defend ultra-Orthodox women's labor rights? 08:10 Border cop dies from self-inflicted shot at Sarkozy farewell 22:52 VIDEO: Two years after his kidnap, U.S. kids read Gilad Shalit's tale of co-existence 01:38 Professor Gabriela Shalev nominated as new UN ambassador Previous Editions Select Day 24 jun 23 jun 22 jun 20 jun 19 jun 18 jun 17 jun 16 jun 15 jun 13 jun 12 jun 11 jun

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