Israeli PM nixes Hamas´ demands in prisoner swap

Source: Xinhua | 03-18-2009 09:01

JERUSALEM, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Israel's outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday night nixed Hamas's current demands in a possible prisoner swap, saying it is impossible for his country to accept.

In a televised address, Olmert said that Israel presented "generous, far-reaching proposals" aimed to bring kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit back from Hamas, which would include some "with blood on their hands" among the several hundred Palestinian prisoners green-lighted for release, but Hamas rejected the offers.

The remarks followed a special cabinet meeting in the afternoon, during which two special envoys updated the ministers on details of their intensive talks in Cairo over the weekend with Egyptian mediators on a possible Hamas new offer for Shalit freedom, which Olmert said Monday was the last chance for an agreement before he leaves office in just a matter of weeks.

All cabinet ministers have agreed that Hamas' current conditions "prevent the possibility of completing the talks and returning Gilad Shalit home," said the outgoing premier, putting the blame squarely on Hamas.

Dubbing Hamas a cruel, murderous and unscrupulous group, Olmert stressed that Israel "spared no efforts" but will not give in to Hamas. "The State of Israel has red lines. We will not cross them."

While pledging continued efforts for the now 22-year-old household-known soldier who was abducted shortly after Olmert became the prime minister in 2006, the outgoing premier said that no new offer would be relayed to Hamas, a stance that seemingly dashed the hope of a deal on his watch.

"It was made clear that Hamas did not agree to show flexibility in the Egyptian-mediated negotiations, reneged on written understandings that had been submitted previously and insisted on the release of 450 prisoners that it had demanded from the outset," Olmert's office said in statement following the closed-door meeting.

It echoed a Monday night statement accusing Hamas of stymieing the negotiations by hardening its position and raising "extreme demands."