Netanyahu names Mossad chief as negotiator in Shalit deal

[ 18/04/2011 - 07:26 PM ]

NAZARETH, (PIC)-- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assigned senior Mossad official David Meidan to negotiate a prisoner exchange deal with the captors of Gilad Shalit through a mediator.

Netanyahu asked Meidan to fill the post after former negotiator Hagai Haddas resigned, as Meidan had been involved in several activities related to the Shalit case as an official in the Israeli foreign intelligence agency, the Mossad.

Shalit's father Noam said that during a meeting with Netanyahu the latter admitted that efforts to free Gilad have so far failed. He expressed anger that two governments over five years have failed to free his son.

Noam said in a statement to Israeli Radio on Monday that opportunities to form a deal have declined due to the government's failure to pressure or come to an understanding with Hamas.

He said the only thing that happened during his meeting with Netanyahu is that he was informed that Maidan was named the new official negotiator.

Meanwhile, Israeli President Shimon Peres said he was optimistic that Shalit would be returned safely to his family.

He emphasized during a visit to the Shalits's sit-in tent pitched near Netanyahu's house in occupied Jerusalem the importance of paying attention to the Shalit case.

Gilad Shalit, an IOF soldier who immigrated to occupied Palestine from France, was captured by Palestinian resistance factions in June 2006 to exchange him for Palestinian captives held in Israeli occupation jails, mainly women, children and long-serving captives.

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