Haniya: Israel has to pay a price for return of captured soldier, Hamdan: No resumption of talks on Shalit unless crossings are opened

[ 16/07/2008 - 05:18 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

Ismail Haniya, the premier of the PA caretaker government, on Wednesday told reporters that Israel has to pay a price in return for its captured soldier Gilad Shalit.

He called on the Israeli occupation government to respond to resistance's conditions and to release Palestinian prisoners serving high sentences, women and MPs.

Haniya described the prisoners' exchange deal between the Lebanese Hizbullah party and Israel as "honorable", and added, "We also are keen on having an honorable deal and getting our prisoners (out of jail)".

Hamdan: No resumption of talks on Shalit unless crossings are opened

[ 16/07/2008 - 05:13 PM ]

BEIRUT, (PIC)--

Osama Hamdan, Hamas's representative in Lebanon, on Wednesday asserted that his Movement was not interested in having a new deal with Israel as long as it did not respect the calm agreement.

He told Al-Quds radio station that the calm agreement should be implemented in full including the opening of all crossings together with the Rafah border terminal.

Israeli sources said that Hamas had frozen the prisoners' exchange negotiations through Egyptian mediation and told Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman that it would not send its delegation this week to Cairo because it needs more time to think (over the issue).

An Israeli official said that Hamas's step was meant to pressure Egypt to open the Rafah border terminal between Egypt and Gaza Strip.

Hamas had earlier held Israel fully responsible for delaying the prisoners' swap deal and asked Cairo to pressure Tel Aviv to stop wasting time.

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