Israel's Netanyahu Confirms That Negotiations Are Back On For Exchange With Hamas For Gilad Shalit

Yesterday, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed that negotiators are back at work on the release of captured IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit. As you will remember, the last time that negotiations were underway, they stalled and then broke off completely - this was back in December of last year.

From the report at The Telegraph:

Israel has resumed negotiations with Hamas that could see up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for the release of an Israeli soldier.

Indirect contacts between Israel and Hamas, via a German mediator, broke off in December after the sides failed to agree on details of a prisoner exchange. Israel was willing to free some 450 militants, including dozens of senior gunmen involved in fatal attacks on Israelis.

However, the sides could not agree on how many of the detainees, classified by Israel as having "blood on their hands", would be allowed to return to their West Bank homes, and how many would be exiled.

Yesterday Mr Netanyahu confirmed that the mediator had returned to discussions

"We're constantly working in various ways to try and bring Gilad home," Mr Netanyahu said. However, he refused to provide details saying he didn't think it was "effective to conduct talks in the media."

To say that I am hopeful about this new round of negotiations would be a lie. And I never lie. But hey, the fact that they are even discussing Gilad is a plus. I've said it before, probably to the dismay of some of my followers because it goes completely against my strategy against Hamas, but I want Israel to give up all the Palestinian prisoners they need to get Gilad Shalit back. The Israel people need Gilad back. The world needs Gilad back. Most of all, his family needs Gilad back.

Give Hamas what they want for him. Then, when he's home safe and sound, come down on Hamas like a rain of death. I've also said before that Israel, once they have Shalit back, needs to systematically exterminate every Hamas operative and leader that even had knowledge of the abduction before, during and after. But bring this young soldier home.

Israel in talks with Hamas over soldier-prisoner swap


Nineteen-year-old Gilad Shalit was captured on June 25, 2006, in a daring cross-border raid by gunmen from Gaza in an operation in which two other Israeli soldiers and two militants were killed.

His captors have denied Red Cross access, although they did release an audio recording and a videotape with messages from the soldier saying he was in good health and urging the Israeli government to meet Hamas demands for a prisoner exchange.

Indirect contacts between Israel and Hamas, via a German mediator, broke off in December after the sides failed to agree on details of a prisoner exchange. Israel was willing to free some 450 militants, including dozens of senior gunmen involved in fatal attacks on Israelis.

However, the sides could not agree on how many of the detainees, classified by Israel as having "blood on their hands", would be allowed to return to their West Bank homes, and how many would be exiled.

Yesterday Mr Netanyahu confirmed that the mediator had returned to discussions

"We're constantly working in various ways to try and bring Gilad home," Mr Netanyahu said. However, he refused to provide details saying he didn't think it was "effective to conduct talks in the media."