Israel has officially rejected the latest demand from Palestinian terrorists holding Cpl. Gilad Shalit hostage that 1,000 "Palestinian, Arab and Muslim prisoners" be released as part of a prisoner exchange. Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev said that "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has reiterated that there will be no deals, that either Shalit will be released or we will act to bring about his release."
Meanwhile, a Palestinian deputy minister said Saturday that Shalit has received medical treatment for wounds sustained during his abduction and that he is in stable condition. He is reportedly suffering from a light stomach injury caused by shrapnel. Israel's Channel 1 television cited a senior Israeli security official in reporting Friday night that a Palestinian doctor treated Shalit for minor shoulder and stomach wounds, and that the soldier was in good condition. Army Radio said the doctor's visit took place Thursday.
The IAF has attacked two Fatah and Hamas facilities in Gaza so far this weekend, in addition to seven access roads. During the last 24 hours the IDF fired more than 350 shells at areas used by Palestinians to fire rockets toward Israel.
"We will continue to operate against terror infrastructures in Gaza to create the conditions for the safe return home of Corporal Shalit and to bring an end to the terror attacks and Qassam fire on Israel," the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said in a statement.
Mininster of Defense Amir Peretz said "If the soldier is returned and the Qassam rocket fire stops – we will order our soldiers to return to their bases." It is important to remember that Shalit's kidnapping was the culmination of months and months of unending rocket attacks from Palestinian terrorists in Gaza, and that the ability to launch rockets onto Israeli towns must be eliminated. No country ought to be subjected to daily acts of terror.
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