An-Nasser Brigades Reject Israeli Prisoner Deal for Shalit

18 October 2007

Bethlehem – Ma'an – The spokesperson of the An-Nasser Brigades, the armed wing of the Popular Resistance Committees, Abu Mujahid, on Thursday refused an Israeli offer to release 200 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit.

He said that the factions who are detaining Shalit stand by their original demand - the release of 1,400 Palestinian and Arab prisoners.

Abu Mujahid told Ma'an that the Israeli side was not serious about a prisoner swap and were to blame for the delay.

The declarations came after Israeli media reported the possibility of Gilad Shalit disappearing. Ron Arad, an Israeli Air Force weapon systems officer has been classified as missing in action since 1986.

The spokesperson confirmed that Egypt remains the major mediator in the Shalit case.

Twenty-one-year-old Gilad Shalit was captured on June 25 2006 in a cross-border attack. The following day the Popular Resistance Committees demanded a prisoner exchange for Shalit.