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Dichter: We’ll release prisoners if necessary

Internal security minister says ‘Israel will release Palestinian security prisoners in exchange for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit’s freedom. Adds: Release of prisoners in exchange for end to Qassam rocket fire on Israel an attainable goal. Hamas in response: Our people have no faith in goodwill gestures

Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said Friday that “Israel will release (Palestinian security) prisoners to free kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. We’ve done it in the past to free hostages and in exchange for calm.”

 


IDF operating in Gaza (Photo: Reuters)  

 

“We all hope Gilad will come home safe and sound,” Dichter said.

 

Shalit was kidnapped from an IDF outpost near Gaza 12 days ago.

 

Speaking to business executives at Tel Aviv’s David Intercontinental hotel, the internal security minister alluded to the possibility that releasing prisoners remains an option in future affairs as well.

 

“There is no reason that a period of calm will not prevail in the future, and this may entail the release of prisoners,” he said. “The release of prisoners in exchange for an end to the Qassam rocket fire on Israel is an attainable goal.” 

 

 

Dichter continued: “We cannot examine the soldier’s kidnapping in terms of hours or days. This is not a Hollywood motion picture. We are responsible for resolving this incident, and there must not be any pressure. There is no deadline for Gilad’s return home."

 

Referring to criticism regarding the IDF’s operation in north Gaza, which has entered its second day, Dichter said “this is a minor incursion into the Strip aimed at accomplishing two things: First and foremost – to stopping the Qassam rocket fire, and secondly to create the pressure necessary for the gathering of intelligence information on the kidnapped soldier.

 

“The government has not limited the army in time; the two main goals are halting the rocket fire and bringing Gilad Shalit home,” he said. 

 

“The Palestinians, including the terror organizations, realize that they cannot withstand the Israeli pressure forever. I believe that eventually (President) Mahmoud Abbas and his associates will have to find a way to bring an end to the Qassam fire and terror attacks against Israel – only then will we halt our fire.”

 

The internal security minister said, “The Palestinian population will not be able to survive in this territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River without living in peace beside Israel.

 

“Israel must also prepare for life beside the Palestinians,” he said.

 

Commenting on recent claims that last summer’s Gaza disengagement was a failure, Dichter said, “ten months have passed since Israel has pulled out of Gaza, and even though Israel has suffered terror attacks, no one was killed; the reason for this is that the pullout pulled from under the terror organizations a rug of available targets in Gaza.

 

“The types of terror attacks we have seen in the past – shooting attacks, mortar fire, bombs placed on roads leading to Gush Katif settlements (in Gaza) – all these have disappeared since the disengagement, and there has also been a dramatic decrease in the number of terror attacks.”

 

Regarding the recent increase in Qassam fire toward Israel, Dichter said “rockets were fired at Israel before the disengagement; Hamas manufactures these rocket in Gaza. Sometimes the organization offers them to other groups so they will be held responsible.

 

“It is important to remember that even before the Kerem Shalom attack – Hamas resumed terror attacks – such as Qassam rocket fire toward Israel. Israel tried to show restraint.” 

 

Hamas lawmaker Mushir al-Masri told Reuters in response to Dichter's comments, "Our people have no faith in goodwill gestures. There is no talk at the moment about the missing soldier, we are talking about 30 Palestinian martyrs and 100 wounded in an Israeli military aggression against our people."

 

Reuters contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.07.06, 17:07
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