Israel is prepared to release Palestinian prisoners in order to free a soldier abducted by militants 12 days ago, Public Security Minister Avi Dichter was quoted as saying on Friday.
”Israel will release prisoners to free kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. We’ve done it in the past to free hostages and in exchange for calm,” Dichter told businesses executives in Tel Aviv, as reported by the online news site Ynet.
”We all hope Gilad will come home safe and sound,” Dichter was quoted as adding at the conference in Israel’s commercial capital.
Dichter was also reported to have called Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip, launched to end Palestinian rocket attacks and increase pressure in order to secure the 19-year-old soldier’s release, as a ”minor incursion”.
Corporal Gilad Shalit was abducted by Palestinian militants in an attack on an army outpost on June 25, which was claimed by three armed groups, including the armed wing of governing movement Hamas. — AFP
