‘Shalit tape another example of Hamas’ cruelty’

SHARM EL-SHEIKH (VIDEO) - Prime Minister Ehud Olmert listened to Gilad Shalit's audio message on Monday before heading off to the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in Egypt and later spoke with the kidnapped soldier's family.

According to the source, "There is no change in Israel's stance. Hamas is no partner and this is another example of its cruelty. The prime minister will address the matter during the talks in Sharm with (Jordan’s) King Abdullah, (Palestinian President) Mahmoud Abbas and (Egyptian President) Hosni Mubarak, but will not make it central."

In the tape, posted on Hamas’ website at around 3 pm, Shalit is heard saying, “I regret the lack of interest on the part of the Israeli government and the Israel Defense Forces in my case and their refusal to meet the demands of the al-Qassam brigades.”

Noam Shalit, the soldier's father, told Ynet, “I hope this is a sign from Hamas to resume negotiations. There is nothing new with regards to the content. These things already appeared in the letter he sent us before.

“I’m still not sure it’s Gilad’s voice. If it is his voice from recent days, it gives us a dimension we didn’t have before. We have to be careful because this might be a spin. From what I’ve already heard, it seems the things Gilad said were dictated by his captors,” Shalit added.

Sources in the security establishment said it was not clear when the tape was recorded, and that it would be examined thoroughly. According to the sources, the tape was a clear sign that Hamas wants to put the affair back on the public agenda in order to resume negotiations for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

The sources also said that Shalit’s claim that his health was deteriorating could be an attempt to pressure Israel into reaching an agreement with his captors.