ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) Director Yuval Diskin has changed his position and is now willing to support the release of terrorists “with blood on their hands” to close a deal towards the release of IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit.

Diskin however stipulates that his support is contingent on minimizing future threats from the very same terrorists, drawing an example from the deal in April 2002 in which terrorists holed up in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem were deported to Europe. (Most of those terrorists were eventually permitted to return home).

With the above-mentioned stipulation, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Ofer Dekel, who is the prime minister’s coordinator dealing with prisoner release issues, all signal they will support the release of terrorists who murdered innocent civilians and soldiers.

Hamas however has stated it will not accept the terms and refuses any stipulation that demands the released terrorists be exiled to areas abroad.

Dekel on Thursday traveled to Cairo again as talks continue, with Israeli sources expressing satisfaction with the progress.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)