Top Shalit activist: Say yes to Hamas

As reports surface about a recent visit by German Mediator Gerhard Konrad to Gaza, the top Shalit campaign activist says Israel should accept Hamas' demands to secure Gilad Shalit's release.

"To my regret, here in Israel we are constantly preoccupied with thinking how Hamas will respond to a deal where 1,000 people are released for our Gilad," Shalit campaign manager Shimshon Libman. "Our strength as a nation is to say yes to Hamas; our one person is as important as your 1,000 people. The Israeli people will emerge from a Shalit deal stronger.

Referring to the dramatic rescue of trapped miners in Chile earlier this week, Libman said: "The message from Chile at this time shows that a government should view its citizens as an asset and do everything to save them and return them to their families, rather than abandon them."

'PM's Office has answers'

Turning his attention to reports about a recent Konrad visit to Gaza, Libman said the Shalit campaign was not informed of such visit.

"If the (German mediator's) visit indeed took place…it shows genuine efforts by the mediator to promote a deal," Libman said. "However, the days pass and Gilad is still in captivity. To my regret, the government and its leader have not advanced his release."

Meanwhile, Noam Shalit, the captive soldier's father, said he does not know whether the German mediator visited the Gaza Strip recently.

"The answers are at the Prime Minister's Office," he said. "I cannot confirm or deny."

Earlier Saturday, Hamas Deputy Politburo Chief Moussa Abu Marzouk confirmed that Mediator Konrad had visited Gaza two weeks ago. Abu Marzouk blamed Israel for impeding the deal after backing out on its latest pledges, stressing that the Islamist group remains firm in its insistence that the deal include all "heavy-duty" prisoners and those Israel regards as having blood on their hands.

Ali Waked contributed to the story

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