Peretz on captives: Talk less, do more

He added that "this is also the basis for out understanding both in order to implement UN Resolution 1701 and in terms of the activity which is taking place these days in the Southern Command around the efforts to release Gilad Shalit."

In the past few days, many spokespersons on behalf of Hamas and the Palestinian organizations declared that an agreement had been reached with Israel on the release of prisoners in exchange for Shalit's release, and that such a deal would be implemented in the near future.

Both Israeli government officials and associates of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas denied the reports, and so did Minister Peretz.

"This process (the captives' release) must be carried out quietly; any unnecessary saying does not promote the result we all want," Peretz said.

"The less we talk and the more we do, we will bring about the longed for result which all the people of Israel are waiting for. Even if we want to respond to statements made by the other side, it is our duty to restrain ourselves and stop making unnecessary statements," he added.

Peretz stated in his speech that he had decided to expand the number of reserve soldiers who took part in the war and will be entitled for a scholarship.

"What worries me is the harm caused to the army's morale and the insult that commanders and fighters sometimes fell in light of publications which are often completely out of proportion," he said, referring to the atmosphere in the army after the war.

'Shalit treated according to Islamic values'

Hamas officials on Sunday reported of a possibility that Israel would release prisoners in the near future in exchange for the release of Corporal Shalit.

Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan told Associated Press Television that there has been progress in the contacts.

"We expect a declaration of a complete deal of releasing Palestinian prisoners for the imprisoned Zionist soldier soon. But this all depends on the Israeli side," he said. "We hope that the results of this deal will be soon, God willing."  

Hamas' military wing spokesman Abu Ubaida said Izz al-Din al-Qassam and two other factions holding Corporal Gilad Shalit for more than six months were not yet ready to free him, but a deal could be close after what he described as a change in the Israeli position.

“There is a breakthrough in this file and we hope it will be concluded very soon,” Abu Ubaida said.

One of the groups, the Popular Resistance Committees, said that Shalit might be handed to Egypt after Israel freed a first group of prisoners. The Egyptians would keep him until Israel then released another batch.

“The swap depends on whether there is an Israeli intention to make it happen. If there is such an intention, it could happen very soon,” said PRC spokesman Abu Mujahed.

He did not say how many prisoners might be freed under a deal.

Mujahed said that Shalit was in good health and being treated according to “Islamic values.”