Senior Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat accusing outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of “blackmail” on Saturday. Olmert had stated that Israel would not agree to a temporary truce with Hamas prior to the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Linking Shalit's release to the ceasefire is blackmail, Erekat said. Gaza crossings should be opened regardless of Shalit's status, he said, under a 2005 agreement between Israel and the PA. Gaza is currently controlled by a breakaway Hamas-led PA, while the Fatah-led PA with which Erekat is affiliated controls much of Judea and Samaria.