Word: shalit
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...offensive, Gaza remains a gaping wound, little changed from how the Israelis left it when they withdrew in January. Its recovery is hampered by an ongoing Israeli blockade that prevents most reconstruction materials from entering the territory amid ongoing political deadlock between Israel and Hamas over captive soldier Gilad Shalit and between Hamas and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas over political authority in the area. And the publication of the soldiers' testimonies - whatever Israelis make of them - is more evidence that closure on the 22-day war may still elude Israelis...
...Israel was jolted into awareness of the threats tunnels pose one early Sunday morning in June of 2006, when Palestinian militants popped up from the earth in the middle of a military outpost near the border, killing two soldiers and wounding four others. Twenty year old Gilad Shalit, whose hand broke when an RPG hit his tank, was dragged into the tunnel and back to Gaza. Almost three years later, Shalit is still being held by Hamas, which has offered to exchange him for 450 Palestinians prisoners...
...flowing into Gaza, since technically the strip won't be under Hamas' control. In practice, of course, Hamas will help decide how the money is spent. But lifting the Israeli blockade - along with doing more to stop the smuggling of rockets into Gaza and returning kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit - is crucial to getting a real, long-term cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Once Gaza's reconstruction begins, Hamas will have an incentive not to provoke Israel and blow up the entire process. The happier Palestinians are with what they have, the harder it will be for Hamas...
...Hamas commanders in Gaza are more pragmatic. Several press reports had Hamas' military commander, Ahmed Jabri, whose men hold Shalit, joining the Cairo talks. The Gaza leaders believe Shalit's release could speed up the opening of the border-crossings into Gaza, allowing in materials to rebuild the enclave. Also, confided one Hamas official, "We're getting tired of holding Shalit. The Israeis haven't stopped trying to release him by force...
...cabinet. If there is an eventual deal, the cabinet may then vote on whether Israel should agree to Hamas terms' for a prisoner exchange. It will be Olmert's last chance to redeem his scandal-ridden tenure as Prime Minister. And like a shadow - or a guilty conscience - Noam Shalit will leave his tent and follow Olmert to his office. There, Shalit will take up a position on a wooded hill across from the Premier's window to remind Olmert that, above politics and all else, it is the life of his son that hangs in the balance. On Tuesday...