Senior Defense Ministry official Amos Gilad, who played a major role in the Regev-Goldwasser prisoner deal and has a pivotal role in talks to obtain the release of Gilad Shalit, told Israel Radio on Monday there is no connection between the two cases.

Gilad rejects accusations that the deal reached with Hizbullah may negatively impact efforts to obtain Shalit’s release from Hamas captivity, stating that to the contrary, it may prove helpful.

In a related matter, Hamas officials in Gaza on Monday morning announced that until Israel exhibits a commitment to the ceasefire and opens all the crossing points to Gaza, thereby ending the embargo, talks towards Shalit’s release will not resume.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)