Defense Minister Ehud Barak on the Sunday morning weekly cabinet meeting called for a total media blackout on the ongoing negotiations towards obtaining the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Barak stated that Israel cannot continue holding talks in the media, which provides day-to-day reports on progress, quoting the facts and the disinformation, complicating efforts towards obtaining Shalit’s release.

Shalit was taken captive on June 25, 2006, and is believed to be somewhere in Hamas-controlled Gaza. There have been credible signs attesting to his being alive, but Hamas has not permitted representatives of the International Red Cross or others to visit him.

Some argue Israel should adopt the same policy, ending all visitations and packages to all terrorists until Shalit is returned, unharmed.

Since last week’s implementation of the Regev-Goldwasser prisoner exchange deal, Hamas has been releasing statements that Israel will have to pay heavily for Shalit’s release, adding the terror organization will be uncompromising in its demands regarding the release of terrorists.

Minister Yitzchak Cohen told cabinet members that we must learn from last week’s event and we must reach a decision, the sooner-the-better, towards bringing Shalit home without delay. Cohen stated that last week’s deal is proof that time is not on Israel’s side.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)