Robert Pastor, a senior aide to former American President Jimmy Carter, visited Israel last week and urged Shas chairman and Trade Minister Eli Yishai to back freeing Hamas politicians and terrorists to secure the return of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. Pastor proposed a joint meeting with a senior Hamas leader.
Negotiations over Shalit appear to be stalled, and Hamas has delayed renewing talks with Egyptian mediators until later this week. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told the Cabinet a month ago that freeing Shalit was tied to the current ceasefire agreement.