PM Netanyahu delays decision on Shalit-Palestinian prisoner swap
DEBKAfile's Exclusive Report
December 21, 2009, 6:35 PM (GMT+02:00)
Noam and Aviva Shalit in herculean battle to save their son
Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu has delayed until Tuesday, Dec. 22 - and maybe longer - for a final decision on whether to go through with the deal with Hamas for trading nearly a thousand Palestinian prisoners for the Israeli sergeant Gilead Shalit who has been in captivity more than three years.
However, DEBKAfile's sources report that heavy counter-pressure to reject Hamas' latest offer is coming from Israeli intelligence agencies, the United States and Egypt.
Gilead Shalit's parents have won enormous popular support for their high-exposure campaign on behalf of their son. But Israeli intelligence, the US and Egypt warn the deal would be a security disaster.
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Obama spins out dialogue with Iran after Netanyahu again delays military option
DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis
December 19, 2009, 11:41 AM (GMT+02:00)
Tough words and soft soap for Iran
After extracting from Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu more time for engaging in dialogue with Iran free of the threat of a military attack or even sanctions, US president Barack Obama has offered Tehran three incentives for talking. Tehran's response has been hart-hitting: a new missile able to penetrate US and Israeli shields, a new military pact with Syria and keeping the Saudis on the run from its Yemeni rebel proxies.
More about this in DEBKAfileExclusive Analysis below.
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Hesder rabbis defuse showdown, call on defense minister to negotiate
DEBKAfile Special Report
December 21, 2009, 11:45 AM (GMT+02:00)
Heads of the hesder yeshiva seminaries said they disapprove of demonstrations by soldiers (as inimical to) the Israeli Defense Forces' internal unity and cohesion, but did not deny their right to refuse orders relating to West Bank settlements.
In resolutions published unanimously at the end of their crisis meeting Sunday, Dec. 20, the rabbis called on all branches of the defense establishment to avoid involving soldiers in missions of a civilian nature. They urged the defense minister, Ehud Barak, to sit down and talk to them.
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