Israel ignores militants' deadline in crisis over captured soldier

JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday ignored adeadline to begin releasing Palestinian prisoners and instead issueda veiled threat against Syria, vowing to strike "those who sponsor"the militants in the Gaza Strip who seized a young Israeli soldier.

Olmert's comments signaled that a flurry of diplomacy throughoutthe region is still no closer to securing the release of Cpl. GiladShalit.

The Palestinian militants holding Shalit angrily said they wouldnot release any more information about him after Israel ignored theirultimatum to begin releasing hundreds of prisoners early Tuesday. Butthey said they would not kill the soldier, after earlier signals thathe would be harmed.

Speaking at a business conference in southern Israel, Olmertrepeated his long-standing refusal to negotiate with Shalit'scaptors. "We won't negotiate with terror elements and we won't letanyone believe that kidnapping is a tool to bring Israel to itsknees," he said.

He told the audience he has ordered the army to push forward withefforts "to strike terrorists and those who sent them and those whosponsor them," an apparent reference to Syria. "None of them will beimmune."

Since Shalit was captured June 25 in a cross-border raid, Israelhas made it clear that it holds Syria and Hamas' Syrian-based leader,Khaled Mashaal, responsible. Last week, Israeli warplanes buzzed thesummer residence of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Israeli officialsalso have implied that Mashaal is a target for assassination.

Israel last week launched a ground operation in Gaza, along with acampaign of airstrikes, to pressure the ruling Hamas party to secureShalit's release. Both Israeli defense officials and Palestiniansecurity officials said the ground operation in northern Gaza wasslowly expanding.

Hamas' military wing and two allied groups -- the PopularResistance Committees and the Army of Islam -- have claimedresponsibility for the abduction.

The militants holding Shalit had set a 6 a.m. (11 p.m. EDT Monday)deadline for Israel to begin releasing some 1,500 Palestinianprisoners in return for information about the soldier. The militantshave given no details on Shalit's condition, although Israeliofficials believe he suffered light wounds and is still alive.

After the deadline passed, a spokesman for the Army of Islam saidShalit's captors "have decided to freeze all contacts and close thefiles of this soldier."

"We will not give any information that will give the occupationgood news or reassurance," said the spokesman, Abu Muthana. But, headded, "We will not kill the soldier, if he is still alive."

The groups had implied Monday that Shalit would be killed if theirdemands were not met.

Cabinet minister Roni Bar-On, who is close to Olmert, threatenedharsh action if the soldier is harmed.

"It's safe to say ... the sky will fall on them if Gilad Shalit isharmed," he added. "If he is killed, we will react in ways thePalestinians haven't seen before."

Despite the tough public line, Israeli officials have privatelysaid they would consider other options to get Shalit back. Israel hasreleased prisoners before in lopsided exchanges for captured citizensor the bodies of soldiers killed in battle.

In Gaza City, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a topHamas official, called on Shalit's captors to protect the soldier andexpressed hope for a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

"The government is exerting efforts with Palestinian, Arab andregional parties to end this case in the appropriate manner," Haniyehsaid at the opening of a Cabinet meeting.

He said the government reiterates the need "to continue thepolitical, diplomatic and negotiation efforts and not to close thedoor and use the language of wisdom and logic to end this."

Egypt has been leading international mediation efforts, includingtalking to Syria. Turkey, which neighbors Syria and is a key Muslimally of Israel, also has sent an envoy to Damascus.

"We are dealing with more than one Middle Eastern government tosee if the release of our serviceman can be secured. The fundamentalprinciple is that his release must be unconditional," said MarkRegev, spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry.

In a new snag, Hamas lawmaker Salah Bardawil said the group hadcut off talks with the Egyptians because of the lack of an Israeliresponse. "It's unreasonable to keep negotiating when there are nooffers," he said.

"If there was a feeling there was an Israeli offer ... I think wecold reopen the door," he added.

Early Tuesday, Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided togradually step up the military operation in northern Gaza, defenseofficials said.

The army said the ground forces moved about a half-mile insideGaza early Tuesday. Palestinian security officials said about 15tanks had advanced slightly.

In an airstrike overnight, a Hamas militant was killed and fourwere wounded. Israel said its air force targeted Palestiniansplanting a bomb near soldiers' positions.

The Israeli offensive, which has left roughly half of Gazaresidents without electricity, has raised concerns of a humanitariandisaster.

On Tuesday, Israel allowed Gaza's key cargo crossings to open toallow food, fuel and other key supplies into the area. However, theErez crossing, used for people and vehicles to cross between Israeland Gaza, was closed due to a security alert, the army said.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah early Tuesday, after surroundinga Palestinian police building, Israeli forces arrested threemilitants said to be involved in the abduction and killing of an 18-year-old Israeli settler last week. The military said a fourth wasarrested earlier.

The kidnapping of the teen, Eliahu Asheri, added tension to thesituation surrounding the capture of the soldier. Asheri's body wasfound Thursday near Ramallah.

Israel ignores militants' deadline in crisis over captured soldier

JERUSALEM -- Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Tuesday ignored adeadline to begin releasing Palestinian prisoners and instead issueda veiled threat against Syria, vowing to strike "those who sponsor"the militants in the Gaza Strip who seized a young Israeli soldier.

Olmert's comments signaled that a flurry of diplomacy throughoutthe region is still no closer to securing the release of Cpl. GiladShalit.

The Palestinian militants holding Shalit angrily said they wouldnot release any more information about him after Israel ignored theirultimatum to begin releasing hundreds of prisoners early Tuesday. Butthey said they would not kill the soldier, after earlier signals thathe would be harmed.

Speaking at a business conference in southern Israel, Olmertrepeated his long-standing refusal to negotiate with Shalit'scaptors. "We won't negotiate with terror elements and we won't letanyone believe that kidnapping is a tool to bring Israel to itsknees," he said.

He told the audience he has ordered the army to push forward withefforts "to strike terrorists and those who sent them and those whosponsor them," an apparent reference to Syria. "None of them will beimmune."

Since Shalit was captured June 25 in a cross-border raid, Israelhas made it clear that it holds Syria and Hamas' Syrian-based leader,Khaled Mashaal, responsible. Last week, Israeli warplanes buzzed thesummer residence of Syrian President Bashar Assad. Israeli officialsalso have implied that Mashaal is a target for assassination.

Israel last week launched a ground operation in Gaza, along with acampaign of airstrikes, to pressure the ruling Hamas party to secureShalit's release. Both Israeli defense officials and Palestiniansecurity officials said the ground operation in northern Gaza wasslowly expanding.

Hamas' military wing and two allied groups -- the PopularResistance Committees and the Army of Islam -- have claimedresponsibility for the abduction.

The militants holding Shalit had set a 6 a.m. (11 p.m. EDT Monday)deadline for Israel to begin releasing some 1,500 Palestinianprisoners in return for information about the soldier. The militantshave given no details on Shalit's condition, although Israeliofficials believe he suffered light wounds and is still alive.

After the deadline passed, a spokesman for the Army of Islam saidShalit's captors "have decided to freeze all contacts and close thefiles of this soldier."

"We will not give any information that will give the occupationgood news or reassurance," said the spokesman, Abu Muthana. But, headded, "We will not kill the soldier, if he is still alive."

The groups had implied Monday that Shalit would be killed if theirdemands were not met.

Cabinet minister Roni Bar-On, who is close to Olmert, threatenedharsh action if the soldier is harmed.

"It's safe to say ... the sky will fall on them if Gilad Shalit isharmed," he added. "If he is killed, we will react in ways thePalestinians haven't seen before."

Despite the tough public line, Israeli officials have privatelysaid they would consider other options to get Shalit back. Israel hasreleased prisoners before in lopsided exchanges for captured citizensor the bodies of soldiers killed in battle.

In Gaza City, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a topHamas official, called on Shalit's captors to protect the soldier andexpressed hope for a peaceful resolution to the standoff.

"The government is exerting efforts with Palestinian, Arab andregional parties to end this case in the appropriate manner," Haniyehsaid at the opening of a Cabinet meeting.

He said the government reiterates the need "to continue thepolitical, diplomatic and negotiation efforts and not to close thedoor and use the language of wisdom and logic to end this."

Egypt has been leading international mediation efforts, includingtalking to Syria. Turkey, which neighbors Syria and is a key Muslimally of Israel, also has sent an envoy to Damascus.

"We are dealing with more than one Middle Eastern government tosee if the release of our serviceman can be secured. The fundamentalprinciple is that his release must be unconditional," said MarkRegev, spokesman for Israel's Foreign Ministry.

In a new snag, Hamas lawmaker Salah Bardawil said the group hadcut off talks with the Egyptians because of the lack of an Israeliresponse. "It's unreasonable to keep negotiating when there are nooffers," he said.

"If there was a feeling there was an Israeli offer ... I think wecold reopen the door," he added.

Early Tuesday, Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz decided togradually step up the military operation in northern Gaza, defenseofficials said.

The army said the ground forces moved about a half-mile insideGaza early Tuesday. Palestinian security officials said about 15tanks had advanced slightly.

In an airstrike overnight, a Hamas militant was killed and fourwere wounded. Israel said its air force targeted Palestiniansplanting a bomb near soldiers' positions.

The Israeli offensive, which has left roughly half of Gazaresidents without electricity, has raised concerns of a humanitariandisaster.

On Tuesday, Israel allowed Gaza's key cargo crossings to open toallow food, fuel and other key supplies into the area. However, theErez crossing, used for people and vehicles to cross between Israeland Gaza, was closed due to a security alert, the army said.

In the West Bank city of Ramallah early Tuesday, after surroundinga Palestinian police building, Israeli forces arrested threemilitants said to be involved in the abduction and killing of an 18-year-old Israeli settler last week. The military said a fourth wasarrested earlier.

The kidnapping of the teen, Eliahu Asheri, added tension to thesituation surrounding the capture of the soldier. Asheri's body wasfound Thursday near Ramallah.