Olmert: Captured Soldier Keeping Israel From Helping Abbas
Ryan R. Jones - All Headline News Middle East Correspondent Jerusalem, Israel (AHN) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday that he is interested in boosting Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, but can do very little until the Palestinians free an abducted Israeli soldier being held in Gaza. Olmert told visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that Israel wants to assist Abbas in implementing the Road Map peace plan and in creating better living conditions for the Palestinians. But he rejected calls that Israel immediately free hundreds of jailed security prisoners as a confidence-building measure. Releasing Palestinian prisoners before Israel Defense Forces Corporal Gilad Shalit is returned would result in Hamas demanding even more for his freedom, warned Olmert. It would also encourage the Palestinians to increase their efforts to kidnap Israelis. Shalit was snatched by Hamas-affiliated terrorists outside Gaza on June 25. However, Olmert did agree to reopen a major crossing between Gaza and Israel in the coming days. The Karni Crossing is Gaza's primary economic lifeline. It has been closed since August 15 amid intelligence warnings of terrorist plans to attack the terminal or infiltrate Israel through it.
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