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'No deal' to free Israeli soldier Hope dashed for Israel-Hamas swap
(about 1 hour later)
Two senior Israeli envoys have returned from indirect talks with Hamas in Cairo without a deal on the release of captured soldier, Gilad Shalit.Two senior Israeli envoys have returned from indirect talks with Hamas in Cairo without a deal on the release of captured soldier, Gilad Shalit.
The Israeli government accused Hamas of hardening its position on a proposed exchange of Sgt Shalit for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Israel accused the Palestinian militant group of hardening its position on a proposed prisoner exchange.
Hamas has not commented, but had played down reports that a deal was near. Hamas played down suggestions a deal had been close and said its conditions for had not changed.
The talks were part of a final push by outgoing Israeli PM Ehud Olmert to secure a deal before he leaves office. The talks are part of a final push by outgoing Israeli PM Ehud Olmert to secure a deal before he leaves office.
Sgt Shalit has been held in Gaza since being captured by Palestinian militants in 2006. Cpl Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants from Gaza, including some from Hamas's armed wing, in a cross-border raid in June 2006.
Two other troops and two militants were killed in the raid. Gilad Shalit has since been promoted to the rank of sergeant.
Egypt has been brokering the indirect talks. Hamas are demanding the release of more than 400 of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Speculation
The two envoys, Yuval Diskin, head of the Shin Bet security service, and negotiator Ofer Dekel, are due to brief ministers at a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon.The two envoys, Yuval Diskin, head of the Shin Bet security service, and negotiator Ofer Dekel, are due to brief ministers at a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
The meeting had already been postponed from Monday, when it had been scheduled to allow a vote on a possible deal, amid Israeli speculation that an agreement was imminent.The meeting had already been postponed from Monday, when it had been scheduled to allow a vote on a possible deal, amid Israeli speculation that an agreement was imminent.
Cairo talks Mr Olmert's office issued a terse statement saying: "It turns out that Hamas has hardened its stance... and presented extremist demands, despite the generous (Israeli) propositions that were made." Israel holds thousands of Palestinians prisoner accused of militant activity
Egypt has been brokering the indirect talks. Hamas are demanding the release of more than 400 of the thousands of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. It turns out that Hamas has hardened its stance... and presented extremist demands, despite the generous (Israeli) propositions that were made Israeli PM's office statement A senior Hamas official, Osama Hamdan, said Israel negotiators had brought no new proposals to the talks.
Among these are senior militants who have been involved in deadly attacks on Israeli civilians. He suggested the Israelis appeared to believe Hamas would accept any offer ahead of the formation of a more hardline government in Israel by right-wing prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu.
Reports from the talks say one of the issues dividing the sides was Israel's wish to deport some of these prisoners, fearing they would be a security risk if released to the West Bank. Among the prisoners Hamas wants to be freed are senior militants who have been involved in deadly attacks on Israeli civilians.
Reports from the talks say one of the issues dividing the sides was Israel's wish to deport some of these prisoners, fearing they would be a security risk if released in the Palestinian territories.
Hamas representatives have said the group rejects the deportation proposal on principle.Hamas representatives have said the group rejects the deportation proposal on principle.
Mr Olmert had made the release of Sgt Shalit a major issue of his premiership. But he may have only days left in office, depending on how long it takes Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu to form a coalition. Precondition
Mr Olmert had made the release of Sgt Shalit a major issue of his premiership. But he may have only days left in office, depending on how long it takes Mr Netanyahu to form a coalition.
The outgoing prime ministers has also said he wanted to make Sgt Shalit's release a precondition for a wider ceasefire agreement with Hamas, under which Hamas wants the crossings into Gaza fully opened to allow rebuilding after the recent Israeli operation.The outgoing prime ministers has also said he wanted to make Sgt Shalit's release a precondition for a wider ceasefire agreement with Hamas, under which Hamas wants the crossings into Gaza fully opened to allow rebuilding after the recent Israeli operation.
Sgt Shalit's family and supporters have said they fear a harder-line cabinet led by Mr Netanyahu might be less likely to do a deal.Sgt Shalit's family and supporters have said they fear a harder-line cabinet led by Mr Netanyahu might be less likely to do a deal.
The Shalits set up a tent in front of Mr Olmert's house last week, escalating their campaign after the prime minister said demonstrations calling for Sgt Shalit's release were unhelpful.The Shalits set up a tent in front of Mr Olmert's house last week, escalating their campaign after the prime minister said demonstrations calling for Sgt Shalit's release were unhelpful.
Gilad Shalit was seized in June 2006 by Palestinian militants, including members of the Hamas group which runs Gaza, in a raid into Israel that also left two Israeli soldiers dead. Nothing has been heard from the Israeli conscript since June 2008, two years after his capture, when a letter in his handwriting was delivered to the Carter Centre in Ramallah in the West Bank.
Nothing has been heard from the Israeli conscript since June 2008, when a letter in his handwriting was delivered to the Carter Centre in Ramallah in the West Bank.