NAHMAN SHAI, a member of the Knesset parliament from the opposition Kadima party, has called on Israel to reconsider its relations with Hamas and the blockade on Gaza following Tuesday’s prisoner swap.
Speaking on Israel radio, Mr Shai, a prominent member of the centrist Kadima, called on prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take advantage of what he called a “small window of opportunity”, opened by the return of Sgt Gilad Shalit in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.
Mr Shai said: “The blockade on Gaza was, in a significant way, dictated by Gilad’s abduction and captivity” and Israel should now “re-evaluate its stance toward Hamas as part of a renewed attempt to restart peace negotiations with the Palestinian Authority.”
There are no direct contacts between Israel and Hamas, which refuses to recognise the Jewish state. Negotiations on the prisoner swap were conducted via German or Egyptian mediators. Israeli officials have indicated that the return of Sgt Shalit will not result in an easing of the blockade on Gaza, which is aimed at stopping weapons reaching militant groups.
French president Nicolas Sarkozy also argued that the prisoner swap provided a boost to Middle East peace prospects.
“I would like to believe that this will permit the taking up again of discussions.” he said. “Even in the most difficult moments there can be hope.”
Representatives of the quartet – comprising the US, EU, Russia and the UN – are due to meet separately in Jerusalem next week with Israeli and Palestinian representatives as efforts continue to revive direct bilateral peace talks.
Israel has accepted a quartet plan for resuming negotiations, but the Palestinians linked such a move to a total settlement building freeze by Israel and a commitment that the talks will be based on the 1967 borders.
Gilad Shalit, in his first day of freedom after more than five years of captivity, took a short stroll with his mother around Mitzpe Hila, the Galilee community where the Shalits live. The police have closed off the road where the family live and Gilad’s father, Noam, pleaded with the media to give the family the peace and quiet needed to help their son recuperate.
Israeli media reported yesterday that the army has put on hold the intelligence debriefing until Sgt Shalit feels stronger.