Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has rejected Hamas’ demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for information about Corporal Gilad Shalit who was kidnapped on Sunday.
In an assertive speech made to the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem, Olmert said that a prisoner release is not on the Israeli government’s agenda.
Olmert added that the time has come for the IDF to take action in the Gaza Strip. “We will not wait until we’ve had enough; we will not make ourselves objects of terrorist blackmail.”
Olmert affirmed that Israel imposed a blockade in the Gaza Strip from the air, land and sea and nobody will enter or exit.
“Anyone who plays a role and represents the PA is in part responsible for all that was done and there will be no immunity, neither personal nor organizational, not for anyone,” he said.