Avigdor Lieberman, a Russian immigrant to Israel, who is not a Neo-Nazi, made a brilliant proposal to deny Hamas prisoners visits until the Red Cross sees Schalit, the Israeli soldier held by the terrorist gang in Gaza.
Family members of Hamas men held in Israeli prisons should be denied visitation rights until the Red Cross is allowed to visit kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Schalit, held by Hamas in Gaza since he was kidnapped in June 2006, Army Radio reported Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman as saying Monday evening.
Lieberman’s comments came hours after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that he would push for a prisoner release ahead of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. In his response to the meeting, the strategic affairs minister insisted that no prisoner release should be considered.
On a separate issue, Olmert, whose family’s loyalties are divided (his wife supports Fatah and his daughter supports Hamas), is determined to remove obstacles constraining the free movement of terrorists.
The issue of lifting West Bank roadblocks to allow Palestinians greater accessibility came up yet again in the latest meeting, and Olmert said again that Israel was waiting for a plan from the Defense Ministry and would present it to Abbas when it was ready.
The Post has learned that disagreement exists between the Prime Minister’s Office and the Defense Ministry on the roadblock issue, with the Defense Ministry less enthused by the prospect of lifting them.
