Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Thursday that Tel Aviv
was ready to exchange 1000 Palestinian prisoners for the Israeli
captive soldier Gilad Shalit, RIA Novosti reports.
Negotiations on exchanging 23-year old Shalit, who has been held for
several years by Palestinian militants, have been held under the
mediation of Germany and Egypt, but face a stalemate after Israel
called demands release the heads of Palestinian groups excessive.
Hamas has not given an answer to the exchange proposal. But Netanyahu made it clear that Israel was not ready to pay 'any price' for
Shalit, and said terrorist leaders would not be freed.
Shalit's family is trying to get the government to sign the deal with
the militants and organized a protest march in Jerusalem, consisting
of thousands of Israelis, to pressurize the authorities.
Shalit has been imprisoned for 4 years. He was captured by Palestinian
groups that used underground passages leading to the territory of
Israel. Two of Shalit's colleagues were killed during the raid.
