Shalit meeting ends without decision
Israel's top ministers fail to reach decision on Shalit swap following lengthy meeting Monday night; ball is now back in Hamas' court. Earlier Monday, Shalit campaign activists vow to remain outside PM's Office at night to 'Help Bibi make right decision'
No decision yet: Israel's top seven ministers failed to reach a decision on the Gilad Shalit swap following a lengthy meeting Monday night.
Following the meeting, which started at 9 pm, the Prime Minister's Offices issued an official announcement, stating that ministers "have instructed the negotiation team regarding the continuation of the effort for returning Gilad Shalit home safe and sound."
Ministers Barak, Lieberman, Yaalon, Begin, Meridor and Yishai met with PM Netanyahu for the fifth time in the past two days Monday evening; IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi also participated in the meeting.
Earlier in the evening, activists on behalf of the Gilad Shalit campaign said they will stay outside the PM's Office overnight in order to make themselves heard and "help" the prime minister make what they consider as the correct decision. Shalit's family also waited anxiously at the site.
Earlier Monday, Prime Minister Netanyahu's associates said that the process may continue for several more days.
While Israel continues to maintain its silence over the details of the deal, the Fox News network reported Monday that Netanyahu has decided to take a step back in respect to a major point in the detail, namely the release of terrorists to the West Bank. However, a Hamas spokesman in Lebanon said that the group would not agree to have prisoners sent elsewhere.
Aviad Glickman and Ali Waked contributed to the story
