Israel 'ready for swop'
2006-08-17 20:43
Jerusalem - Israel is ready in principle to free Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a soldier captured by Gaza-based militants, the serviceman's father Noam Shalit told Israeli television on Thursday.
"We spoke with the prime minister (Ehud Olmert) and in principle the government is ready for a release.
"But before any of that can happen, we need to have proof that Gilad is still alive," Shalit told the privately run Channel Two.
Corporal Gilad Shalit was seized in a cross-border raid from Gaza on June 25 in which two comrades were killed.
Ever since, Israel has publicly insisted that Shalit must be freed without preconditions.
It launched a major offensive against the territory to secure his release and stop rocket fire by militants.
- AFP