News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Hamas spokesman Sami Abu-Zohari said Sunday evening that a bill to prevent visits to security prisoners unless abducted soldier Gilad Shalit is released is "a desperate measure to extort Hamas and pressure it to ease conditions for Shalit's release." Interviewed by the Hamas Ramatan website, Abu-Zohari said the proposal would complicate Shalit's release.

There are those who believe that security prisoners should not be allowed visits as long as Shalit is not released or at least allowed access by the Red Cross or other agencies.