GAZA CITY, 19 April 2008 — A senior Israeli Cabinet minister has offered to meet Hamas leaders, including Khaled Meshaal, to secure the release of an Israeli soldier being held captive in Gaza, his spokesman said yesterday.
The spokesman said Industry and Trade Minister Eli Yishai passed the proposal to former US President Jimmy Carter, who came to Israel this week ahead of his visit to Syria.
Hamas, whose soldiers arrested Gilad Shalit in June 2006, have demanded Israel free jailed Palestinians in exchange for his release.
Yishai spokesman Roei Lachmano-vich quoted him as telling Carter he “would be happy to meet anyone relevant — including Meshaal” to appeal for freedom for Shalit as well as two Israeli soldiers arrested by Hezbollah in July 2006.
Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert had no immediate comment on Yishai’s initiative. However, another Cabinet minister, Rafi Eitan, voiced doubt that Yishai would be allowed to negotiate a prisoner deal alone.
“Every Cabinet minister has to keep in line with the government resolutions,” Eitan told Israel Radio.
Yishai heads the Orthodox Jewish Shas party in Olmert’s coalition government and was the only Cabinet minister to meet Carter.
