Israel Agrees to Gilad Shalit Abductors' Demands
The London-based Arabic newspaper al-Hayat reported that Israel has agreed to the terms presented to it in the framework of the indirect negotiations with Corporal Gilad Shalit’s kidnappers, held via Egyptian mediators.
According to the report, Israel has agreed to pull its forces out of Gaza, call off the closure imposed on the Strip, halt targeted killings, raids and arrest and release Palestinian ministers, parliament members and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, in exchange for Shalit’s release and ending the Qassam attacks on Israel.
This is a shocking change of pace, considering PM Olmert was quoted as only hours before saying:
…freeing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a captured Israeli soldier would be a “major mistake”.
There could be no negotiations with the “bloody organisation”.
And, as Reuters reported:
“I will not release prisoners for the trade of Corporal Gilad Shalit to Hamas.”
So the mediators, who the Irish Examiner quoted as being “far apart” from brokering a deal, worked one out within a matter of hours?
Something just doesn’t seem to compute…
In view of their history of truthfullness and acccuracy, we are now going to believe an arab language paper because…….?
…..yeah. What doesn’t compute is why Yediot is reprinting stories from Al-Hayat as fact, with no confirmation from Israel. And according to NPR, Olmert is denying the capitulation categorically. I hope they’re right.