Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is wrapping up a series of high-level meetings in Washington, will be meeting on Wednesday with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Topping the list of items to be discussed is ongoing Israeli efforts towards obtaining the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.

Shalit is now in his third year in Hamas captivity, believed to be somewhere in Gaza. Israel has not succeeded in obtaining his release, primarily due to the continued refusal of leaders to comply with Hamas’ list of terrorists to be released in exchange for Shalit.

Hamas has stated that some 1,000 terrorists will have to be released by Israel in exchange for Shalit, adding the terror organization is unwilling to negotiate the number or the names on the list submitted to Israel.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)