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Israel minister hints at possible prisoner release

Posted on: Friday, 7 July 2006, 09:03 CDT

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - An Israeli cabinet minister raised the prospect on Friday that Israel might free some Palestinian prisoners if militants release a captured soldier and end rocket fire and other attacks.

Israel has until now said it will not negotiate on swapping prisoners for the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, held by militants in the Gaza Strip since June 25.

Interior Minister Avi Dichter was quoted by his spokesman on Friday as telling a conference that if Shalit was freed and attacks stopped then Israel "knows how to carry out a release of prisoners as a goodwill gesture."

"We did it in the past and we know how to do it," Dichter said.

Spokesman Ofer Lefler would not confirm or deny whether Israel was discussing a possible release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit, who was captured in a cross-border raid.

Israel has in the past released Palestinian prisoners as goodwill gestures aimed at promoting peace talks and in exchange for the return for Israeli captives held by Lebanese and Palestinian guerrillas.

The Israeli army has launched an offensive in Gaza to try to bring home Shalit and to end rocket fire across the border. At least 36 Palestinians, most of them militants, have been killed since the offensive began last week. One Israeli soldier has been killed.

Source: REUTERS

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