Vice Premier Shimon Peres told the leaders of the US “Jewish Republican Coalition” that Israel will immediately cease its operation if the Palestinians release Gilad Shalit. Peres indicated that Israel tried to negotiate with the abductors of the soldier, but Khaled Mashaal and his gang of murderers refused to go the way of peace. “We did not choose this situation that is before us and we are happy to avoid it. We paid a dear political price for the events that happened in the territories after we evacuated Gaza,” Peres said. “We are speaking about security decisions here,” he added.