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11-27-2006, 07:23 PM
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Olmert puts peace on table to free soldier
28nov06
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said last night he was prepared to release Palestinian prisoners and unblock frozen Palestinian funds in exchange for the release of a captured Israeli soldier.
The concession, to secure the release of Gilad Shalit, followed the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip after a five-month offensive triggered by the capture of the 20-year-old tank corporal.
"In exchange for Gilad Shalit, Israel is ready to release many Palestinian prisoners, including some who have been sentenced heavily," Mr Olmert said at a ceremony in the desert to mark the anniversary of the death of Israel's first prime minister, David Ben Gurion.
Corporal Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants on June 25 in a cross-border raid claimed by three Palestinian groups, including the armed wing of the ruling Hamas movement .
Mr Olmert said Israel was prepared to withdraw from considerable Palestinian territory in exchange for peace, 24 hours after a shaky ceasefire went into effect in Gaza, handed back to the Palestinians last year.
The Prime Minister used the speech at Sde Boker, in the Negev Desert, to offer the Palestinians wide-ranging concessions if they turned away from violence, saying they would be able to achieve an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Mr Olmert said the Palestinians stood at a "historic crossroads" and could choose to continue on the path of either violence or peace.
If they chose the peace path, Israel would ease checkpoints and release frozen funds to the Palestinian Authority.
"We will agree to leave large territories and dismantle settlements we established," he said. "We will be willing to do this in exchange for real peace."
Palestinian militants have demanded that Israel release hundreds of prisoners in exchange for Coporal Shalit.
AFP
It's about time this soldier went home.
Print this page (http://javascript<b></b>:printable())
Olmert puts peace on table to free soldier
28nov06
JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said last night he was prepared to release Palestinian prisoners and unblock frozen Palestinian funds in exchange for the release of a captured Israeli soldier.
The concession, to secure the release of Gilad Shalit, followed the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip after a five-month offensive triggered by the capture of the 20-year-old tank corporal.
"In exchange for Gilad Shalit, Israel is ready to release many Palestinian prisoners, including some who have been sentenced heavily," Mr Olmert said at a ceremony in the desert to mark the anniversary of the death of Israel's first prime minister, David Ben Gurion.
Corporal Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants on June 25 in a cross-border raid claimed by three Palestinian groups, including the armed wing of the ruling Hamas movement .
Mr Olmert said Israel was prepared to withdraw from considerable Palestinian territory in exchange for peace, 24 hours after a shaky ceasefire went into effect in Gaza, handed back to the Palestinians last year.
The Prime Minister used the speech at Sde Boker, in the Negev Desert, to offer the Palestinians wide-ranging concessions if they turned away from violence, saying they would be able to achieve an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Mr Olmert said the Palestinians stood at a "historic crossroads" and could choose to continue on the path of either violence or peace.
If they chose the peace path, Israel would ease checkpoints and release frozen funds to the Palestinian Authority.
"We will agree to leave large territories and dismantle settlements we established," he said. "We will be willing to do this in exchange for real peace."
Palestinian militants have demanded that Israel release hundreds of prisoners in exchange for Coporal Shalit.
AFP
It's about time this soldier went home.