Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday that no talks were taking place regarding the release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier abducted during a deadly raid by Hamas and its allies on June 25, 2006. The civil date corresponds to Sunday's Hebrew date of Kaftet (the 29th) of the month of Sivan, making Sunday the third anniversary.
Following his meeting in Cairo with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the Labor party leader said that the intent was there to renew the negotiations "and do everything required to bring Shalit home." He added, the less said about the subject the better.
Regarding the protests in Iran over the disputed presidential vote, Barak told reporters that an historic process was taking place that would affect the Middle East for many years.