Israel Matzav

Ben Eliezer confirms: Meshaal vetoed deal for Shalit

Speaking from Cairo, Israel's Infrastructure Minister, Binyamin (Fouad) Ben Eliezer confirmed that Khaled Meshaal vetoed what was apparently a 'done deal' to release kidnapped IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit.

Hamas' exiled political leader vetoed an Egypt-brokered prisoner swap involving Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, held in Gaza, and Palestinian prisoners in Israel, Infrastructure Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Thursday.

Ben-Eliezer also said Israel had no intention of reinvading Gaza over the abduction of Cpl. Shalit.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo, Ben-Eliezer said his government "accepted and respected" the proposed prisoner swap. "But at the last minute, the whole issue was changed by Hamas and mainly by Khaled Mashaal."

...

Former Egyptian ambassador to Israel Muhammad Bassiouny said that Israel was interested in a deal that would eventuate the release of Shalit, but that would also bring about regional stability.

Bassiouny confirmed that Egypt was increasing efforts to bring about the captive soldier's return during an interview with BBC.

Shalit's release, a preliminary condition set by Israel for talks, would bring about negotiations between PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, added the former ambassador.

HaAretz adds:

But it was not immediately clear if Mubarak had floated any proposals beyond those he made after Palestinian militants captured an Israeli soldier near Gaza on June 25.

According to the proposal, the Palestinian militants would free the soldier in return for an Israeli commitment to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners at a future date.

Egypt blamed the Islamist group Hamas for preventing a deal on those terms.

And what exactly will prevent Hamas from doing the same thing again in the future?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 4:13 PM