OCCUPIED JERUSALEM (PIC)– The Israeli occupation authority has asked for a period of time before replying to the Hamas Movement’s calm proposals amidst news that it retreated from its demand that the release of its captured soldier Gilad Shalit should be linked to the calm issue.
Media sources said that Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman conveyed this stance to Hamas delegation that is currently in Cairo and added that the Israeli request was met with dissatisfaction on the part of Palestinian parties.
They said that Suleiman did not open the file of Shalit and that Hamas was not officially informed of including him in the calm agreement. They noted that Suleiman met with the Hamas delegates on Monday to discuss latest developments in the calm issue.
Meanwhile the Hebrew radio quoted political sources as saying that Israel had conveyed a message to Cairo that Shalit should be released before the calm agreement.
Israeli premier Ehud Olmert had renewed his government’s insistence on refusing to open Gaza commercial crossings unless Shalit was released.
