Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., June 25, 2008 Sivan 22, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:22 (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

Court rejects Shalit petition By Tomer Zarchin Tags: israel, ehud olmert  The High Court of Justice on Monday rejected the petition of Noam and Aviva Shalit against Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the political security cabinet, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. At the same time, the justices noted they felt the cabinet needs to discuss the issue of the release of the Shalits' son, Gilad, again. The Shalit family had asked the court to order the government not to implement the cease-fire agreement with Hamas in Gaza before their son's release. Advertisement According to the Shalits, cabinet members were misled into thinking the agreement on Gaza linked Gilad's release to the opening of the Gaza border crossings. The court ruled that the cabinet's decision was a policy matter, and it could not intervene. Nevertheless, a confidential part of the opinion was given only to the State Attorney's Office. 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. Gilad's parents said that keeping the crossings closed was Israel's only means of pressuring Hamas to release their son, and that Israel should have held 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 on Sunday 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. On Sunday 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. Related articles: ANALYSIS / Prisoner deals - emotion vs. security sensibilities A question of the bottom line Report: Israel, Hamas to hold marathon talks on Shalit deal 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.   Keep the hope, there is still a marathon taking place 07:09  |  Praying with you 24/06/08   2.   Day 6 - Cease-fire in Jeopardy 07:20  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/06/08   3.   Israel Admitted Taking Hostages 07:24  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/06/08   4.   how many mortars should fall 07:38  |  Jonathan 24/06/08

Read & React Cabinet to vote Sun. on Hezbollah deal, says wife of abducted soldier Responses: 268 Editorial: We must pay the high price for the return of Gilad Shalit Responses: 101 Gaza truce shaken as four Qassams slam in Negev Responses: 224 Poll: 77% of Israeli Arabs would rather live in Israel than in any other country Responses: 225 Border Policeman dies from self-inflicted shot at Sarkozy farewell Responses: 141 More Headlines 00:09 Cabinet to vote Sun. on Hezbollah deal, says wife of abducted soldier 23:43 Border cop dies from self-inflicted shot at Sarkozy farewell 02:03 Negotiator heading back to Cairo for indirect talks on Shalit 22:52 VIDEO: Two years after his kidnap, U.S. kids read Gilad Shalit's tale of co-existence 21:12 Olmert: Israel mulling response to renewed Qassam fire 20:33 World Wealth Report: People in Israel get richer faster 18:46 Religion is not very important to American Jews 01:38 Professor Gabriela Shalev nominated as new UN ambassador 22:51 Paris prosecutors open probe into beating of Jewish teen 00:05 Knesset approves law allowing property owners to kill intruders 18:53 Hamas prisoners freed in West Bank, despite PA pledge to Israel 20:57 Lawyers ask Spanish court to charge 4 alleged ex-guards at Nazi camps 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

Special Offers Advertisement Holyland Park Jerusalem Apartment Tower World Class Luxury In the heart of Tel-Aviv The Meier on Rothschild tower Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Free Hebrew Private Lesson www.iStudyHebrew.com Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved