Shin Bet Warns against Relaxed Criteria
CBNNews.com
December 31, 2007
CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Shin Bet (General Security Agency) chief Yuval Diskin said relaxing criteria for the release of Palestinian prisoners is a big mistake.
At a meeting Sunday, Diskin criticized Israeli negotiator Ofer Dekel for recommending that Israel adopt less stringent criteria for prisoner swaps.
According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, the meeting was adjourned prematurely when opposing sides failed to agree on criteria for Palestinian prisoners' eligibility for early release.
Sunday's meeting, which included Cabinet ministers and security personnel, was called in part to consider the newest offer by the Hamas terror organization for a prisoner swap of kidnapped Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Corporal Gilad Shalit.
Shalit was captured during a cross-border attack in June 2006, when Palestinian terrorists tunneled under the security fence near the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza and attacked an IDF outpost. Two soldiers were killed, three injured, and a wounded Shalit abducted.
Earlier Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert commented on Friday's terror attack south of Hebron in which Pvt. Ahikam Amihai, 20, and Sgt. David Rubin, 21, were shot dead while hiking with a friend.
Olmert said Israel cannot consider lifting checkpoints in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) until the Palestinian Authority (PA) exerts more effort to root out the terrorist infrastructure.
"We don't plan on comprising [on security]," Olmert said. "It will be an integral part of any negotiations with the PA," he said.
At Sunday's meeting, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak spoke of the two slain soldiers' love of the land. Both Amihai and Rubin served in elite combat units of the IDF.
Barak said counter-terror operations in the Gaza Strip were yielding results and would continue.
Source: Haaretz
CBN IS HERE FOR YOU!
Are you seeking answers in life? Are you hurting?
Are you facing a difficult situation?
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
