JERUSALEM, Aug 17: 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,” Mr 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 also 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
