'We understand the family's pain.' Shalit (Archives)
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PRC: Release 1,400 prisoners or Shalit will spend many holidays in captivity
Spokesman for group holding IDF soldier says toughened stance result of Israel's 'foot-dragging' in prisoner exchange negotiations; adds ' we have no problem releasing Shalit once prisoners are freed'
A senior figure in one of the Palestinian organizations holding Gilad Shalit told Ynet on Sunday that the captors are considering reneging on the general outline agreed upon during the Egyptian-mediated negotiations and demand the simultaneous release of 1,400 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the IDF soldier.
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On Thursday the Ramon Committee submitted a list to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert consisting of the names of the 450 Palestinian prisoners Israel will free in exchange for Shalit. The committee approved half of the names demanded by Hamas.
According to the agreed upon outline, the Palestinian prisoners are to be released in three stages. The source said the toughened stance was the result of Israel's 'foot-dragging' and the fact that the Jerusalem was "not taking the negotiations seriously".
"Recent media reports have said that the Shalit deal will include the release of the Israeli soldier in exchange for 450 prisoners, but we want to remind everyone that Shalit will be freed in exchange for 1,400 prisoners – with the core group being those prisoners who were sentenced to multiple life sentences," Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) spokesman Abu Mujahed told Ynet.
"The Israelis approved half of the names on our list of prisoners, but this is not enough," he said. "They must now take that extra step and approve the entire list or Shalit will not be released and will spend many Jewish New Years in captivity."
'We have no interest in dragging the issue'
The PRC spokesman added "we appreciate the pain of Shalit's family and that of the Israelis who want to see him freed, but we also sympathize with the Palestinian families whose sons have been imprisoned for decades; we have no problem releasing Shalit once they are freed.
"We have no interest in dragging the issue; on the contrary, we want it to conclude as soon as possible and see all of our prisoners freed," Abu Mujahed said.
A Palestinian source told Ynet, a speedy conclusion to the Shalit affair hinges on a breakthrough in the internal Palestinian situation.
"We do not believe Israel will release the imprisoned Hamas parliament members as long as the feud between Hamas and (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas persists, as such a development would signify Hamas' renewed control over the Palestinian political agenda," the source told Ynet, "and if they are not released there is no deal."
