Shalit's parents to Netanyahu: You are not authorized to kill our son

[ 02/05/2011 - 08:56 AM ]

NAZARETH, (PIC)-- Parents of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier captured by Palestinian resistance in Gaza Strip, along with tens of supporters rallied in front of the Israeli cabinet's headquarters on Sunday during its weekly session.

Hebrew media reported that the demonstrators called on the government to do more to secure the release of Shalit, who was captured almost five years ago.

Shalit's parents hoisted placards with slogans directed at Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu saying, "you are not authorized to kill Shalit", and "Israel lacks leadership".

The demonstrators lashed out at the Israeli government for not doing enough to secure Shalit's return to his parents.

Palestinian resistance demands the release of 1400 Palestinian prisoners including all women, minors, sick detainees, and those serving high sentences in return for Shalit's freedom. The demand was refused by Israel.

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The Shalits: Netanyahu foiled prisoner swap at the last moment

[ 21/04/2011 - 10:32 AM ]

OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The grandfather of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Gaza Strip resistance forces in 2006, has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of foiling negotiations at the last moment after parties were on the verge of an exchange deal a about a year ago.

The statement of Shalit's grandfather Zvi came during a message he directed to Netanyahu accusing him of using a ”sardonic” style in dealing with the Shalit swap deal.

Zvi said that Netanyahu's refusal to respond to the requests of former Israeli security services chiefs to have Gilad released in exchange for the said price was like imposing the death penalty on his grandson.

Israel had formerly confirmed that it would continue actions to retrieve Shalit by coordinating with German mediator Gerhard Konrad.

According to a statement released by Netanyahu's office on Wednesday evening, the Israelis will continue to work with Konrad's mediation under his latest proposal that includes banishing a number of prisoners to be released under the swap deal who Israel has classified as a security risk, a stipulation Hamas has refused.

Israeli minister Uzi Landau has refused to free Palestinian prisoners charged with killing Israelis in exchange for Shalit, saying that swap deal calls are detrimental to negotiations.

The British Middle East newspaper revealed Wednesday that a new European country, which has not yet been revealed, has agreed to mediate between Gaza resistance factions and the Israelis in the swap deal.

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Netanyahu names Mossad chief as negotiator in Shalit deal

[ 18/04/2011 - 07:26 PM ]

NAZARETH, (PIC)-- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assigned senior Mossad official David Meidan to negotiate a prisoner exchange deal with the captors of Gilad Shalit through a mediator.

Netanyahu asked Meidan to fill the post after former negotiator Hagai Haddas resigned, as Meidan had been involved in several activities related to the Shalit case as an official in the Israeli foreign intelligence agency, the Mossad.

Shalit's father Noam said that during a meeting with Netanyahu the latter admitted that efforts to free Gilad have so far failed. He expressed anger that two governments over five years have failed to free his son.

Noam said in a statement to Israeli Radio on Monday that opportunities to form a deal have declined due to the government's failure to pressure or come to an understanding with Hamas.

He said the only thing that happened during his meeting with Netanyahu is that he was informed that Maidan was named the new official negotiator.

Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres said he was optimistic that Shalit would be returned safely to his family.

He emphasized during a visit to the Shalits's sit-in tent pitched near Netanyahu's house in occupied Jerusalem the importance of paying attention to the Shalit case.

Gilad Shalit, an IOF soldier who immigrated to occupied Palestine from France, was captured by Palestinian resistance factions in June 2006 to exchange him for Palestinian captives held in Israeli occupation jails, mainly women, children and long-serving captives.

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Popular resistance: We will not make do with Shalit

[ 18/04/2011 - 02:13 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- The popular resistance committees said the capture of one Israeli soldier five years ago took the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails a quantum leap forward, but the resistance would not make do with one Israeli detainee.

"Only the Palestinians were active in the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and they commemorate it on the seventeenth of April every year by marking the prisoner day, but when the Palestinian resistance was able to kidnap Shalit, international parties started to deal with this issue and many countries reacted with it after hearing about Shalit and knowing why he was captured," spokesman for the committees Abu Mujahed told Quds Press on Sunday.

Spokesman Abu Mujahed added that the capture of Gilad Shalit exposed the hypocrisy of the international community which moved when one Israeli soldier was taken into custody and ignored more than 7, 000 Palestinian prisoners being humiliated and maltreated in Israeli jails.

The spokesman urged the family of Shalit to pressure the Israeli government to respond to the Palestinian resistance's demands in order to conclude a prisoner swap deal leading to the release of their son.

He also warned the Israeli government of playing with fire or making any follies in order to release Shalit.

In a related context, media practitioners and specialists in prisoners' affairs called on Sunday for necessarily activating the issue of Palestinian prisoners locally and internationally.

This came during a symposium organized by the press and media department at the Islamic university.

The symposium addressed the press and media coverage of prisoners' affairs and the participants highlighted the role of the local and international media outlets in activating this issue.

Hamas Says Schalit Deal Will Only Proceed on “Our Terms”

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Dweik slams international double standards towards issue of prisoners

[ 18/04/2011 - 01:47 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- Speaker of the Palestinian legislative council Dr. Aziz Dweik strongly denounced the international double standards and hypocrisy towards the issue of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.

Dr. Dweik made his remarks in a sit-in organized by families of prisoners on Sunday outside the Red Cross headquarters in Ramallah city on the 37th Palestinian prisoner day.

Dr. Dweik stated in his speech that the international community blatantly turns a blind eye to thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and only pays attention to one Israeli soldier detained in the Gaza Strip.

He said this sit-in was aimed to remind the world and human rights organizations of the suffering of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and their families.

The speaker also appealed in his speech to the international community to do justice to the two Palestinian lawmakers and one former minister who resorted to the Red Cross building in occupied Jerusalem after Israel decided to expel them from their native holy city.

The speaker also referred to the suffering of isolated prisoners, women and children locked up in Israeli jails and expressed hope the international community could enable them to live in dignity like humans.

In Al-Khalil city on the same day, hundreds of Palestinians and families of prisoners went on a march in solidarity with prisoners in Israeli jails following a ceremony organized by the Palestinian prisoner society to commemorate the Palestinian prisoner day.

Massive crowds also gathered in Gamal Abdulnasser park of Nablus city to mark the day.

They carried banners demanding freedom and rights for Palestinian prisoners.

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Hamas Says Schalit Deal Will Only Proceed on “Our Terms”

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar said Monday that the deal to release captive Israeli occupation soldier Gilad Schalit will only go ahead on Hamas' terms.

Al-Zahar warned that "the occupation must understand that all its attempts over the last five years have failed even when faced with the patience of Hamas and the Palestinian people."

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday appointed senior Mossad official David Meidan as the new Israeli mediator to negotiate the release of Schalit, following the recent resignation of former mediator Hagai Hadas.

Netanyahu informed Schalit’s parents, Noam and Aviva, of the new appointment at a late-night meeting he held with them, accompanied by his wife, Sara.

“I assure you that in the coming days and weeks, we will continue to operate by all the means that we have to bring about the release of Gilad,” Netanyahu said.

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Shalit’s father: Netanyahu covers his failure by scaring people of consequences

[ 15/04/2011 - 02:05 PM ]

RAMALLAH, (PIC)-- The Israeli radio said today that the father of captured IOF soldier Gilad Shalit stated that the Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, and those around him are trying to cover for their failure to get his son freed by scaring the Israeli people that a deal with the captors would encourage further “kidnappings” of soldiers.

He added that Netanyahu plays on the common fear of the public when he keeps reminding them of prisoner exchange deal 26 years ago with Ahmad Jebril’s PFLP General Command.
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