Posted on 07/03/2006 9:43:02 PM PDT by Nachum
At 6:00am this morning, Tuesday, the terrorist-imposed ultimatum on hostage soldier Corporal Gilad Shalit expired.
There has been no official word since the deadline ran out, but statements released from Gaza indicate there would be no more talk regarding the soldiers condition and fate.
Terrorists demanded the release of over 1,000 prisoners held by Israel, but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defense Minister Amir Peretz and cabinet ministers rejected any form of negotiations with terrorists towards Shalits release. Olmert stated Israel would not capitulate to blackmail and extortion, with Interior Minister Ronnie Bar-On warning terrorists that they will pay an unprecedented price for their actions.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry & Trade Eli Yishai concurred, announcing terrorists would regret their actions if they harmed even one hair the soldiers head, while Minister Peretz issued a stern warning to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, calling upon him to open his eyes, placing responsibility for the attack and kidnapping on the Syrian leader.
Earlier in the week, Peretz called on US Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice to intervene, to apply pressure on Damascus, calling on Assad to instruct Hamas politburo leader Khaled Meshal to order terrorists to release the captive soldier.
During a visit to the Shalit family home on Monday, Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Major-General Dan Halutz was approached by the soldiers father, Mr. Noam Shalit, who asked Halutz as the IDFs number one soldier to please protect the interests of his son and bring him home safe and sound.
While the ultimatum deadline has passed, the terrorists did not announce what actions would be taken in light of Israels refusal to meet demands.
In the meantime, the Arabic daily el-Hayat reports a deal is in the works which would result in Shalit being moved to Egypt or France. Terrorists will agree to halt Kassam rocket attacks into the Sderot and western Negev areas and Israel will release imprisoned terrorists and immediately halt the military offensive in Gaza. Shalits release would be negotiated at a later date.
There is no official Israeli comment on the report
Shalit is dead.
07:37 Israel says nothing changes in its position after militants` deadline passed (Reuters)
07:36 Palestinians fire three Qassams at western Negev; no casualties (Haaretz)
07:08 Islamic Army spokesman in Gaza: `Discussion is closed` on Shalit (Reuters)
There was another thread an hour ago saying they had come to terms and a deal was worked out.
rumour.
I thought I heard on Fox news earlier today that Gilad's father didn't want his son to be the cause of WW3 (or 4, depending on who is counting).
I thought that was very noble, and was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to say the same, if I were in his shoes.
Now, I am not sure what to think. Is this the "fog of war"?
> Terrorists will agree to halt Kassam rocket attacks ...
Keeping in mind, of course, that these cutthroat cultists
have never ever been agreement keepers.
Beyond that, Israel has a history of not negotiating with terrorists around some table at an undisclosed location.
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