According to the London-based Arabic Al-Shark Al-Awsat newspaper, Israel has now informed Hamas it is no longer linking the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit to a truce with Hamas.

This report is in line with Hamas’ position, with terrorist leaders in Gaza announcing last week that there would no connection made between a truce and Shalit’s release, stating Shalit would only be released when Israel complies with Hamas demands to set hundreds of terrorists free.

Despite a week of increased rocket attacks in the Greater Sderot Area, the political-security cabinet after a five-hour meeting last week decided to give Egyptian mediation efforts another chance. In reality, the majority of the cabinet favors a major military operation in Gaza but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak favor the diplomatic route.

A growing number of lawmakers and citizens are accusing the three of placing their political considerations ahead of the nation’s security interests.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)