Jerusalem, Jan 07: Israel has categorically refused
to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a recording
of an Israeli soldier seized by militants in Gaza in late
June, a senior official told Sunday.
"This proposition is completely unacceptable," the
official said on condition of anonymity.
Quoting senior officials, the Maariv daily reported today
that the Palestinian ruling Hamas movement had offered that a
video tape of corporal Gilad Shalit, which has been passed to
Egyptian authorities, be handed over to Israel in exchange for
the release of up to 250 Palestinian prisoners.
The exact nature of the recording was unclear, with the
Israeli media referring to it as a video and some officials
calling it an audio tape.
The official told that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Olmert rejected the proposal, saying that the recording "would
add to the suffering of Gilad Shalit's family."
A senior Hamas official, Mussa Abu Marzuk, said on
Thursday in Damascus that Shalit was alive and that a
recording of him had been handed over to Israeli authorities.
Shalit, 20, was seized on June 25 in a cross-border raid
carried out by three Gaza militant groups, including the armed
wing of Hamas.
Egypt has been mediating between Israel and the
Palestinians over the serviceman's release.
Bureau Report
