Jerusalem (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The Cairo sponsored talks between Israel and Hamas on the release of soldier Gilad Shalit in Exchange for a hundred Palestinian prisoners have failed. According to the Israeli government the blame lies at Hama’s door for their “impossible” conditions.
The talks mediated by Egypt concluded late last night. Israeli sources have confirmed that Hamas has back tracked on its earlier position. Israel and Hamas had agreed on the release of the young soldier Shalit, abducted in 2006, in Exchange for a hundred Palestinian militants currently prisoners in Israel. Tel Aviv however, demanded that among the released those guilty of having planned or carried out deadly attacks on Israelis be extradited from the West Bank to a neighbouring nation. It appears that disagreement remains on the names on the list of those to be extradited. For Hamas there should only be five; for Israel there are dozens.
The case of Gilad Shalit has become a strongly emotive subject for Israel. Shalit’s family and friends are demanding his release as soon as possible. Out going premier Ehud Olmert hopes to achieve Shalit’s release before his imminent departure from government. Prime Minister designate Benjamin Netanyahu also hopes to conclude the Exchange before his government’s mandate begins, in order to be free of Hamas blackmail.
Talks on prisoner exchange have been ongoing for more than a year. With the truce between Hamas and Israel in the aftermath of the Gaza offensive, many had hoped that the two side’s position had softened. Instead the dialogue is stalled; missiles continue to be launched from Gaza against Israel as well as retaliatory Israeli air raids against Gaza.