PM tells Shalit family: Still no breakthrough on Gilad's release

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert yesterday told the family of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit that there had been no breakthrough in the quest for his release. During a meeting in his Jerusalem office, Olmert also told the family that he personally, the government and the defense establishment would continue to do everything possible to attain the missing soldier's release.

Olmert's meeting with the Shalit family was set a few weeks ago, but became more timely in the context of reports that Israel and Hamas might renew talks under Egyptian mediation.

Government officials told Haaretz that Olmert had recently been examining options to relax the criteria for freeing Palestinian prisoners with "blood on their hands," and that cabinet secretary Oved Yehezkel has established a ministerial forum to discuss the issue with security officials and submit recommendations to the prime minister.

Forum members are Vice Premier Haim Ramon, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Minister without Portfolio Ami Ayalon.

"Officials involved in the Shalit affair have the feeling that there is a need for greater pragmatism on Israel's part on the issue of prisoners and that the criteria might be changed in such a way to be more suitable to the existing reality," a government official said.

Defense officials say that no senior Hamas prisoners could be released without changing the criteria that prohibit the release of prisoners with "blood on their hands." Government sources said they hoped the forum's recommendations would signal Hamas to move ahead on a prisoner swap.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak is to travel to Cairo on Wednesday to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and intelligence chief Oman Suleiman, who is in charge of talks with Hamas. Shalit's release is to be a main topic in the talks.

The Shalit affair has once again risen to the surface following reports that Ofer Dekel, the official in charge of prisoner exchanges, had held talks in Cairo and that the Egyptians wanted to renew talks with Hamas. On Saturday, Ayalon indicated that the criteria for the release of prisoners should be changed and that given the lack of a military option to rescue Shalit, the only possibility is a prisoner swap.

At yesterday's cabinet meeting Barak said Israel did not have enough information to implement a military operation to release him. Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Eli Yishai said Israel should enter talks with Hamas for Shalit's release.

A senior security official meanwhile told Haaretz "the moment Hamas stops shooting rockets and Qasasms from the Strip, we will consider our steps, and we will certainly behave differently."

According to the official, "there is no doubt that Hamas can force a cease-fire on Islamic Jihad and the other small factions in the Strip. It would not be a decline of 100 percent but even 98 percent will be a big change."

The security establishment sees statements by senior Hamas officials on the need for calm in the Gaza Strip as a sign that economic and military pressure on the Strip is working. Some officials say the most important element is that the economic situation is the worst it has been in years and people cannot leave, which has placed great strain on Hamas.

Senior army brass have said in internal defense establishment meetings that they oppose a truce because it would allow Hamas to grow stronger. However other officials say Sderot and the surrounding communities can be better protected now to prevent future Qassam damage.

The officials also say the real decision-makers in Gaza are not the Hamas political wing under Ismail Haniyeh, but rather the military leaders, headed by Ahmed Jabari, and that Jabari does not seem interested in a truce.

Officials close to the talks on Shalit's release said a truce between Israel and Hamas might contribute to a better atmosphere in talks on a swap.