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Netanyahu. Seeking leverage
Photo: AFP
Gilad Shalit
Photo: Vadim Lidin

PM mulls Palestinian prisoners' conditions

Israel may pressure Hamas to release Shalit by canceling prisoners' benefits, officials say

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering worsening the incarceration conditions of Palestinian prisoners, Jerusalem officials told Ynet Monday.

 

The officials say Netanyahu may implement recommendations of a report written by former Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann, who said Israel should cancel some of the prisoners' benefits in order to gain leverage in talks for the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.

 

 

Though Friedmann's report was ratified by Israel, its recommendations were never implemented due to controversy over whether they would help or harm negotiations.

 

But with talks deadlocked and the soldier in captivity for some five years, the prime minister appeared to be reconsidering applying additional pressure on Hamas.

 

MK Danny Danon (Likud) has already proposed a bill on the matter, but the Cabinet opted not to back it. On Monday Netanyahu answered a query put forth by the Opposition on the bill by saying that despite having rejected it, the government may still decide to alter the prisoners' conditions.

 

Recently both German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on Hamas to release Shalit.

 

Reports in Germany say that both Paris and Berlin offered the terror group benefits in exchange for the soldier's release, but that Hamas's military wing had rejected the offers. Israel said recently that there was "no progress" in talks.

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.20.11, 20:42
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