Qatari PM promised Sarkozy to work for Shalit's release

Qatari Prime Minister Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabir al-Thani told French President Nicolas Sarkozy when the two leaders met in Paris two weeks ago that he would engage Hamas intensively to help release kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, according to a foreign source.

Israel is still waiting for an answer from Hamas and Egypt on a proposal for marathon talks in Cairo on a new list of Palestinian prisoners to exchange for Shalit.

Sarkozy told al-Thani this was a humanitarian issue and that Shalit was also French citizen. A few months ago Sarkozy gave al-Thani a letter from the Shalit family for Gilad, who gave it to Hamas political-wing head Khaled Meshal.

Meshal, who visits Qatar frequently, is there now as a participant in a conference on assistance to the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's emissary for the Shalit affair, Ofer Dekel, returned yesterday from meetings abroad on Shalit and informed Olmert of the results.

The government source said Hamas and Egypt have "not been enthusiastic" about a meeting in Cairo about the new prisoner list.

The Shalit family and the group rallying for Gilad's release said that if he is not released before Olmert's term ends, Shalit could become "the second Ron Arad," referring to the Israeli airman captured in Lebanon in 1986, whose whereabouts are still officially unknown. Hezi Mashita, an activist for Shalit's release, called yesterday on Olmert not to "miss this last chance for you and for Gilad."

Meanwhile, the stalemate in talks on the Gaza cease-fire has resulted in an increase in rocket fire from the Strip, with two rockets and a number of mortars fired into the western Negev Thursday.

A Grad rocket landed yesterday evening in an open area near Netivot. Earlier, a Qassam landed near Sderot. There were no injuries. The air force responded by attacking weapons-smuggling tunnels under the Philadelphi Route.

Amos Harel contributed to this report.