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Israel 'responsible' for soldier
28/06/2006 13:25 - (SA)
Ramallah - The life of an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Palestinians depends on Israel, the deputy prime minister of the Hamas-led government said on Wednesday, calling on his captors to keep him alive.
"The life of the soldier depends on the Israeli government's decision," Nasserdine al-Shaer told reporters in the West Bank town of Ramallah as he chaired an urgent meeting of the Palestinian cabinet.
The meeting was made up of ministers based in the occupied West Bank, with those in the Gaza Strip unable to attend because of the security situation after Israeli troops staged a ground operation in a bid to free the soldier.
"We ask the kidnappers of the soldier to preserve his life and treat him well," Shaer said, referring to 19-year-old Gilad Shalit who was kidnapped by Palestinian militants, including gunmen loyal to Hamas, on Sunday.
Solution to 'damaging situation'
Shaer said the cabinet was meeting to try to find a solution to stop what he called "the damaging situation in Gaza and all Palestinian land" while reiterating Palestinian condemnation of the Israeli offensive.
"At the same time, we ask the world and UN Security Council to stop the Israeli escalation against the Palestinians," he said.
"We are holding the Israeli government responsible for Palestinian lives," Shaer added, saying that he would work with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas and foreign leaders to find a peaceful solution.
- AFP
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