"Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
is still working on the Gilad matter and is not giving up, this will go on until the last moment," said Noam Shalit, father of captive soldier Gilad
Tuesday evening after his meeting with the prime minister.
The private meeting was called after a three-hour cabinet meeting in which the ministers were briefed on the failed efforts towards the soldier's release.
"We received all kinds of clarifications and explanations during the meeting
we had this morning with envoy Ofer Dekel. We are on the same page," the father told reporters.
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| France concerned over results of Shalit talks / AFP |
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French Foreign Ministry spokesman says 'it seems there has been no significant progress' in Cairo negotiations aimed at securing kidnapped soldier's return, but refuses to blame either side |
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"I wouldn't say that the talks reached a deadlock. It's a fact that they were stopped, but I am not betting on the talks. The fact that there have been talks all throughout these three years, all throughout these one thousand days, does not mean that it will all be over in the next session.
"The feelings, disappointments, and hopes are not relevant. We have been dealing with these hopes, disappointments and expectations for a thousand days now. What's important now is actions, and not hopes and expectations."
During the cabinet meeting, ministers were briefed by Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin and Olmert's envoy Ofer Dekel, who managed the talks in Cairo.
Family returns to protest tent (Photo: AFP)
Ministers leaving the meeting said it was decided to publish some of the names of terrorists Hamas demanded in return for Shalit, to give the public an idea of how "senior" the prisoners are.
Some of the names of prisoners Israel is willing to release may also be published. Ministers refused to comment on the content of the meeting, but said the current round of talks seemed to be over, and that the next government will have to be the one to solve the matter.
At the end of the meeting, Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann said,
"No government will be able to accept Hamas' demands.
"The prime minister was ready to make far-reaching concessions on this matter, way beyond what some of the ministers were willing to accept. Nonetheless, Hamas' demands have reaches such dimensions that we believe no government in Israel will be able to accept."
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