Israel to free 20 for Shalit film

[oberliner]

Israel has said it will release 20 Palestinian women from detention in return for proof that captured soldier Gilad Shalit is still alive.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it was waiting to receive video taken recently by his militant captors in Gaza.

Israel currently holds about 10,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Gilad Shalit has not been seen since his capture by Hamas militants in a raid on an Israeli border base in 2006.

The Israeli statement said the deal had been proposed by Egyptian and German mediators as a "confidence-building measure".

The Hamas group is demanding the release hundreds of prisoners, many serving lengthy sentences for carrying out militant attacks, in exchange for the soldier.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8282421.stm

[shaayecanaan]

1. Apparently the Germans have already seen the movie...

so there is probably not much that it can achieve in terms of proof of life. I think Netanyahu is getting a bit desperate for results, honestly.

[bemildred]

2. I think it would be great for everybody if Mr Shalit got to go home.

And anybody Nuttyahoo decides to set free too. "Bargaining chips" demean us all.