Continued Negotiations for the Exchange of Palestinian Captives for the Imprisoned Israeli Soldier
(pictured, anonymous Israeli soldier)
What follows is an excerpt from the December 11, 2006 Report of the United Nations Secretary General on the Middle-East from Relief Web. In paragraph 24 of that report (to help you locate this excerpt in it) Kofi Annan expresses his desire to see both the captive Israeli soldier and some of the 9,000 Palestinians now being held captive in Israel released.
At the time of writing, efforts to form a Palestinian national unity government appear to have stalled. However, a precarious and imperfect ceasefire is in place in Gaza, and tentative feelers have been put out regarding the possibility of resumed Israeli-Palestinian dialogue, as well as broader regional dialogue. The ceasefire follows a period of political deadlock and spiralling violence that has had serious consequences for civilians on both sides, with Palestinian militants firing rockets from Gaza into Israel, and massive Israeli military operations and targeted killings that have led to several hundred Palestinian deaths this year, at a rate that has increased significantly since June 2006. Negotiations under Egyptian auspices are continuing for the release of the Israeli soldier captured at that time. Prime Minister Olmert recently announced that he would consider a prisoner exchange of 1,400 Palestinian prisoners, including lawmakers and officials seized by Israel after Corporal Gilad Shalit's capture. There are an estimated 9,000 Palestinians currently in detention in Israel, a matter of burning concern for the Palestinian population. The release of some of them and also the Israeli soldier would be a very positive development.
