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Cairo - Mubarak: Israel Aborted Deal for Captive Soldier |
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Mubarak, whose government has led efforts to broker the release of the young conscript seized by Palestinian militants in a cross-border raid in June 2006, told Yediot Aharonot that Shalit was about to be transferred to Egyptian safekeeping when Israel altered its terms for the envisaged prisoner swap.
"There are terms for ending the problem of Gilad Shalit and we were on the verge of resolving it but you delayed the matter," Mubarak said in the interview, carried by Egypt's official MENA news agency on Thursday evening.
"We were on the verge of receiving Shalit from Hamas and of putting him with us until you released some Palestinian (prisoners)," he said, referring to the Islamist group that controls Gaza.
"You kept saying we'll release this one but not that one and the matter was complicated when you introduced new elements."
When asked when the deal was to have taken place, Mubarak ducked the question.
Shalit, who also has French citizenship, has become a cause celebre on Israel. His family have been deeply critical of successive Israeli governments for failing to secure his release through an exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
Mubarak said that Shalit remained in good health in the hands of his Hamas captors despite his long ordeal, even though similar remarks by the Egyptian president earlier this week were dismissed by the Islamist movement as "wishful thinking".
Both Arab and Israeli media reported last month that Shalit was to be imminently transferred to Egyptian safekeeping, pending Israel's release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
An Egyptian intelligence official and security officials at the border with Gaza told AFP at the time that they had been instructed to prepare for Shalit's transfer, which they said could happen at any moment.
Both Israel and Hamas strongly denied the reports.
In the interview, Mubarak said he told Israeli officials not to openly discuss the soldier.
"I told the Israeli leadership, don't talk about the Shalit issue and it will gradually be resolved," he said.
"The more you consider the Shalit issue important, the more they (Hamas) will harden their position."
Israeli officials visited Egypt twice this month to discuss Shalit's release.
Senior defence ministry official Amos Gilad met Egyptian officials in Cairo on Thursday, official media reported, two days after Israeli President Shimon Peres met Mubarak in the Egyptian capital.
Gilad was Israel's pointman in Egyptian-brokered truce negotiations with Hamas after its devastating 22-day assault on Gaza in December and January ended in unilateral ceasefires by both sides.
The talks broke down when Israel made any truce deal conditional on Shalit's prior release.
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Read Comments (12) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 09, 2009 at 04:18 PM chesky Says:
Mubarak is right Sure did israel break the talks they are not willing to release 250 dangerous terrorists for shalits release. Why should they?,
2
Jul 09, 2009 at 04:15 PM m Says:
Once again where is the 'Red Cross'?
Israel must resolve this themselves with sever punishment to both Hamas leadership and the family clan allegedly holding Shalit.
3
Jul 09, 2009 at 04:12 PM Anonymous Says:
Overall, these deals are not good for EY since it simply sets a precedent and gives Hamas a reason to kidnap another soldier while we release hundreds of terrorists for just one captive. all it does is to increase the risks for other soldiers.
4
Jul 09, 2009 at 04:58 PM Anonymous Says:
Maybe if the pres focused on shalit instead of settlements peace would be easier
5
Jul 09, 2009 at 05:52 PM Sceptic Says:
I don't believe a word that comes out of Mubarak's mouth. In the middle east tradition truth is elastic and words serve your own interests. Is it because they harmed Shalit and they are searching to blame Israel for it?
I dont believe a word.
6
Jul 09, 2009 at 05:39 PM Anonymous Says:
Easy to say when its not you who is capturedf by these animals
7
Jul 09, 2009 at 07:13 PM Anonymous Says:
if hes not back we will knock off some big boys .
8
Jul 09, 2009 at 06:58 PM Z. N. Mishegoss Says:
Unfortunately, I'm fairly well convinced that Shalit is no longer alive. They'd be parading him around as a propaganda coup if that was the case - maybe make him make statements, brainwash him, anything to humiliate him and EY. I hope against hope that I'm wrong, and that he'll come home safely, but this is like any other kidnapping - the longer the time period elapses, the less likelihood of a successful resolution.
9
Jul 09, 2009 at 09:28 PM Anonymous Says:
The trade should be 1 for 1 and not 250 with blood on their hands foe one.
10
Jul 09, 2009 at 09:46 PM Anonymous Says:
Please say tehilim for Gilad ben Aviva may H' return him to his Parents soon, and in good health.
11
Jul 10, 2009 at 07:57 AM Anonymous Says:
What is "unilateral ceasefires by both sides."
Doesn't unilateral mean one sided?
12
Jul 10, 2009 at 11:27 AM Shlomo Says:
Remember the 3 Nos of Khartoum?
1. NO peace with Israel
2. NO recognition of Israel
3. NO negotiations with Israel
We need to update it:
1. No peace with terrorists
2. No recognition of terrorist "governments"
3. No negotiations with terrorists
We should all pray for the release of Gilad. We should also not support lopsided prisoner exchanges: 250:1 just emboldens them and puts others at risk.