Beckett threatens Gunboat Diplomacy over kidnapped IDF soldier

Yesterday an Israeli military court ordered the release of 21 Palestinian lawmakers, including 3 Palestinian Cabinet ministers, who were arrested and detained following the Hamas capture of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit in Gaza on June 29th. Prosecutors are appealing the decision to release the detainees on bail, however, and the lawmakers will remain in jail for another 48 hours pending that challenge. A lawyer representing the detainees, Osama al-Saadi, told Reuters their release was conditional on posting a collective bail of 25,000 shekels ($5,690). So raising the prospect of their future prosecution by Israel.

Over 30 Hamas MPS’s have been detained since Shalit's including Palestinian parliament speaker Aziz Dweik and the secretary-general of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

In an attempt to break the diplomatic deadlock, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the current Fatah leader, announced on Monday that a coalition government would be formed with Hamas.

A Hamas spokesman said the group had no intention of recognizing Israel, and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh , and Hamas leader, said the new government would not negotiate with Israel.

Foreign Secretary Beckett speaks

Margaret Beckett said she discussed the situations in Lebanon, Iraq, Israel and Sudan, as well as the Palestinians, during a 90-minute meeting with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday.


Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said Egypt is still trying to mediate a prisoner swap to bring the release of Cpl. Gilad Shalit in return for the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and continually claims without any evidence that a deal might only be "days or hours away.”

Margaret Beckett, called for the immediate release of the Israeli soldier, Cpl. Gilad Shalit.

"The Israeli soldier should be released," Beckett said but did not appear to suggest what arrangements should be made to bring this about.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert last Monday denied reports of an impending deal to swap Palestinian prisoners for Shalit.

Meanwhile the Jerusalem Post reports today ..

Rabbi Yossi Peli, who teaches at the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva in the settlement of Yitzhar, was arrested and interrogated by police Tuesday about an article in which he called for either killing or expelling all male Palestinians in Judea and Samaria above the age of 13.

Peli was released on bail after being charged with sedition and incitement to violence.