Hamas leader: Captured “Israeli” soldier alive and well

Source: CNN, 25-8-2007
DAMASCUS, Syria - "Israeli" soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit -- captured by Hamas more than a year ago -- is alive and well, the exiled leader of Hamas told CNN Friday.
Hamas has been negotiating for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit through an Egyptian intermediary, Khaled Meshaal told CNN senior international correspondent Nic Robertson.
Hamas has also reached out to Shalit`s father to tell him his son is well and that Hamas gave him eyeglasses when he requested them, Meshaal said in his first interview with Western television in two years.
Shalit, however, said in an audiotape message released in June that his health was getting worse.
"It`s been a hard year in prison, and my health situation is deteriorating, and I am in need of long-term hospitalization," he said in the message, posted on a Hamas Web site and played on "Israeli" TV.
Hamas militants captured Shalit during a raid on an "Israeli" army post near the "Israel"-Gaza-Egypt border on June 25, 2006, according to "Israeli" Military Forces. Two other "Israeli" soldiers were killed in the assault.
Meshaal said Hamas has put forward a list of 350 Palestinians they want released from "Israeli" jails, but he blamed "Israel" for the breakdown of talks.
An "Israeli" envoy traveled to Egypt last month with a list of Hamas prisoners the "Israelis" would be willing to release, an Egyptian official said. While "Israel" has given up Palestinian prisoners in the past, "Israel" has also said it will not release certain prisoners accused of having carried out terrorist attacks.
Meshaal cited "Israel's" willingness to release Palestinian robbers and such, but not leaders, as one reason negotiations have broken down.
Among the prisoners Hamas wants released is Marwan Barghouti, a Fatah leader serving five life sentences. He was convicted in 2004 on five counts of murder stemming from three al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades attacks that killed "Israelis". He was also sentenced to 40 years in prison on an attempted murder charge from a failed suicide car bomb.
In the audiotape released in June, Shalit said he was "disappointed by the lack of interest on the part of the ‘Israeli' government and army."
Weeks after Shalit`s capture, Hizbullah militants captured two "Israeli" soldiers in a border clash, which "Israel" responded to with an all out 34 day offensive against Lebanon.