Gilad Shalit
Photo: AP
Vice Premier Haim Ramon
Photo: Gil Yohanan
State officials: Shalit deal will require Israel to pay painful price
Following swap deal with Hizbullah, Israel prepares for actualizing swap for Gilad Shalit; to this end committee headed by Haim Ramon will convene to decide whether Israel should ease its stance on prisoners Hamas is demanding
Less than one week after the return of Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser's bodies to Israel in caskets, the State is preparing for the promotion of the deal to release kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. A committee headed by Vice Premier Haim Ramon is set to convene in the near future in order to discuss rendering Israel's stance on the issue of prisoner release more flexible.
Israel has so far agreed to release 70 terrorists out of those Hamas has demanded, and in total has approved the release of 320 out of 450 prisoners, including many that have not been defined as terrorists. The debate is currently surrounding the rest of the names on the organization's list, and these are the decisions the committee headed by Ramon will have to make.
A State official told Ynet on Monday that "in the end, despite the strict negotiations we will hold with Hamas, Israel will have to pay a hefty price in murderers in order to bring Gilad home."
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Besides the vice premier, other members of the committee include Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, MK Ami Ayalon (Labor), and Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann.
Ramon's committee will be asked to once again hear the Shin Bet's stance, which firmly opposes the release of prisoners "with blood on their hands". The terrorists in question include those responsible for planning the attack on the Park Hotel and those responsible for the attacks on Jerusalem's buses.
Despite the Shin Bet's objections it appears that many of the ministers support a change in policy. "There is no choice," one minister said. "The final decision rests with the State, and it will have to decide even if security forces remain opposed."
Defense Minister Ehud Barak referred Sunday to the efforts made at releasing Gilad Shalit. "We have before us our next goal – the return of IDF warrior Gilad Shalit home alive and well," he said. "It will not be easy, but the IDF and I feel morally obligated to take any steps possible and proper in order to bring him home alive and well."
Egypt remains hopeful
Despite the fact that the Shalit deal appears to be tied down, Egypt is continuing in its efforts with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's special envoy, Ofer Dekel, as well as with Hamas in Gaza.
The dialogue aims to reach an understanding that will enable the renewal of negotiations for Shalit's release. Israel will ask Hamas to yield certain names on its prisoner list, though it will agree to the number. Hamas is demanding that Israel release all of the prisoners on the list, and may even raise the amount to 1,000.
Following a discussion held at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on Sunday, a State official told Ynet that "Hamas has adopted two ideas from the swap deal with Hizbullah. The first is that patience when dealing with Israel pays off to a degree, and the other was instilled upon witnessing the celebrations in Lebanon in preparation for the release of Samir Kuntar. They are already multiplying this effect by 450, inside of Gaza's tiny population. This, in their opinion, will lead to Hamas' empowerment."
One of the major problems expected to occur during future negotiations, planned to begin in Cairo over the next few weeks, is Hamas' demand to open Rafah crossing. Israel is unwilling to discuss the opening of the crossing until progress is achieved on the Shalit deal. Hamas is interested in controlling the crossing, while Israel has agreed only to allow PA officials to activate it.
"The groundwork for negotiations is currently being prepared," an official familiar with the proceedings said. "The ceasefire in Gaza is becoming stable. Amos Gilad brought us the ceasefire agreement, which allowed for the launching of negotiations over Shalit. Now we must reach a basic understanding with Hamas about the identity of the prisoners the terrorists are demanding.
"On one hand, Ramon's committee must be activated, and the list brought up for the approval of the State, the cabinet, and the government. There is no doubt that if we want to bring Gilad home, a painful price will have to be paid, but it must be quick and tough."
Meanwhile the prime minister and defense minister are working to censor the details of the Shalit negotiations, claiming that control over media publications on the issue will prevent public pressure on the State, and the subsequent toughening of Hamas' demands.
