News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Two-thirds of Israelis would not agree with any initiative releasing PLO convicts "with blood on their hands" in exchange for captive soldier Gilad Shalit, according to a Hebrew-language newspaper poll. “Blood on their hands” currently applies to any terrorist who was involved in a fatal attack on Israelis, including the commander who gave the order, whether or not they personally carried out the attack. A terrorist who tried to kill Jews but failed is not labeled as having blood on his hands.

Two Years Ago at IsraelNationalNews.com
Syrian President Bashar Assad is interested in negotiating with Israel but does not want peace, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said. She told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that if Israel were to sit down at the negotiating table with Syria, other more moderate states would harden their position toward Israel.

Three Years Ago at IsraelNationalNews.com
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon held a high-level security consultation on Sunday to discuss ways to halt Kassam rocket attacks into the Ashkelon area. The prime minister appears prepared for a significant ground operation, telling his security chiefs that the rocket attacks must be halted.