By KUNA,
Gaza : Israel said on Monday that the Palestinian Islamic organization Hamas expressed opposition to linking an aspired truce to release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Israel Radio, citing security sources, said the Israeli intelligence official, Amos Gilad, was notified about Hamas’ opposition to releasing the soldier at a meeting between him and the chief of the Egyptian intelligence, Omar Suleiman, held in Cairo yesterday.
The radio said Gilad linked re-opening of the shut passageways around the West Bank and Gaza to the release of the soldier, who has been held — presumably by Hamas — since two years ago.
Gilad demanded anew, during the meeting, that Egypt stop smuggling of arms and ammuniction across the border.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ahmad Yousef, in charge of foreign affairs in the Hamas administration in Gaza strip, was quoted by the local radios as confirming the organization’s oppositin to freeing the Israeli soldier.
“The Israeli intransigence with regard of the Israeli hostage and its refusal to free Palestinian prisoners have snagged the negotiations,” he said alluding to current Israeli-Hamas talks, held in Cairo with Egyptian mediation.
Israel has presented new terms for enforcing a sustainable truce; stoppage of trafficking across the border of Gaza, manufacturing of arms and missile attacks on southern Israel, Yousef added.
He indicated that the Egyptian-mediated talks hit snags after the Israeli side failed to provide a timetable for lifting the siege on the West Bank and Gaza.