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World Jewish News
Olmert: Efforts to free Schalit to continue despite 'leaks'
24.02.2009
Israel is continuing in its efforts to attain the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, despite the "irresponsible" leaks from people involved in the negotiations, outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday.
lmert's remarks were seen as a semi-veiled attack against ousted Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad, who had served as the lead negotiator with Egyptian mediators in securing a cease-fire with Hamas before being sacked.
"We are making efforts through channels - some have been publicized through irresponsible people - to bring him back alive and healthy to his family, friends and the Israeli people, Olmert said in an address to the Jewish Agency's board of governors meeting in Jerusalem.
Olmert added that he could not speak freely of the efforts Israel was making to secure the soldier's release, noting that "it will not be helpful" to go into details.
"There are some chances it will move foreword," he said of the negotiations, adding, however, that he did not know he long it would take.
On Sunday, the Prime Minister's Office announced that it had removed Gilad from his position following an interview he granted Ma'ariv last Wednesday in which he blasted Olmert's decision to link cease-fire negotiations with the release of Gilad Schalit.
"I don't understand what they are trying to do. Insult the Egyptians? We've already done that. This is insanity, simply insanity. Egypt remains almost our last ally here. For what? We are harming national security," he told the paper.
The prime minister came under a barrage of criticism following the removal, with many people claiming that the move would hurt the efforts to free the kidnapped soldier. However, on Monday Olmert dismissed the accusations, saying that Gilad had never been involved in negotiations for Schalit, but rather had focused solely on securing a cease-fire deal.
Also on Monday, aides to the prime minister said that a longtime adviser to the premier, Shalom Turgeman, will replace Gilad in the truce talks, along with the head of Israel's Shin Bet security service, Yuval Diskin.
Veteran negotiator Ofer Dekel will handle efforts to free Schalit, the aides added, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
Herb Keinon contributed to this report
Источник: JPost.com
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