From Ynet News, 27/6/06, by Aviram Zino ...
(Go to Gaza kidnapping - special coverage for a special news series on this incident)
Prime minister categorically rejects Palestinian offer ...[to release information on] abducted soldier Gilad Shalit in return for freeing all female security prisoners. Israel will not show restraint much longer - Gaza operation imminent, Olmert says. Egypt, France join negotiations for soldier’s release
The issue of releasing Palestinian security prisoners in return for abducted soldier Gilad Shalit's freedom is not on Israel's agenda, and time is running out. These were the two central messages Prime Minister Ehud Olmert conveyed during a speech addressing the Jewish Agency conference in Jerusalem Monday evening.
Olmert said, "We see the Palestinian Authority headed by (Palestinian President) Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian government as responsible for the terror attack yesterday, for the Israeli soldier's abduction and for his safe and sound return to Israel."
"It is not a matter up for negotiation, development or arrangement. It is a matter of basic obligation to conform to the elementary rules of decency of the international community, and those who want to be part of it," Olmert said.
Olmert warned the Palestinians, “The violence and difficult antagonism which took place yesterday morning obligates us to respond. I am saying now that we will retaliate, and we will respond to every terrorist, to every terror organization, in every location. They know we can reach them even when they think they are protected.”
“We are operating under pressure, and therefore we weighed our next moves carefully. But very soon we will launch an inclusive, severe and difficult operation. We won’t wait forever, we won’t turn ourselves into an object of extortion for the Hamas. We will act with all the forces available to us to stop terrorism, and to return the kidnapped soldier home to his family.”
According to Olmert, Israel has already taken initial military steps. “The Gaza Strip is completely closed off, on land and sea, and no one can enter or exit. This is the first in a series of steps, which we will consider patiently, so that it is clear to you that terrorism has to stop. The State of Israel will defend itself and its citizens in every way to stop this blood-thirsty extremism,” the prime minister said.
Hamas: Release female prisoners
Palestinian armed groups on Monday offered to release information on kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit if the Jewish State releases all female and minor Palestinians imprisoned in Israel. Hamas, the Popular Resistance Committees and the Army of Islam, the three groups who claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack in Kerem Shalom, made the offer in a joint statement.
"The Israeli occupation will receive no information about the soldier unless it promises to immediately release all female prisoners," the statement read....
Hagai Einav contributed to the report.
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