Worsening Jail Terms For Hamas Convicts Is Offered As Tactic For Freeing Shalit

The failure of the negotiations in Cairo to bring about the release of Israeli prisoner of war Cpl. Gilad Shalit has prompted the Israeli government to announce measures geared to increase pressure on Hamas in a number of ways. The ultimate goal will be to spur its leadership to show flexibility.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert formed a special ministerial committee, headed by Justice Minister Daniel Friedman, to draw up a list of strategies that would then be presented for a cabinet vote at its next meeting if the new government isn’t sworn in yet.

Among the steps being considered are worsening the terms of incarceration for Hamas convicts in Israeli jails to make them more resemble the conditions in which Gilad Shalit is being held.

Ministers proposed banning family visitation rights, and especially Red Cross visits, because Hamas will not allow the Red Cross to visit Cpl. Shalit.

Currently, the Hamas convicts live in relative comfort in comparison with prisons around the world. They have beds and mattresses, a hot shower, clean lavatories and each prisoner is entitled to possess basic foods and beverages. The incarcerated terrorists are entitled to a newspaper in Hebrew and a newspaper in Arabic, a television set in their cell, a personal radio, a kettle and soft drinks.

Some of the convicts complete their matriculation exams in prison and are also entitled to do undergraduate work at the Israeli Open University. The security convicts are entitled to visits by the Red Cross, their families and their lawyers.

Israel will try to use the convicts’ influence to pressure the Hamas leadership.

Ofer Dekel, an Israeli intelligence official, is considering making personal trips to the prisons in order to meet with these convicts.

Mr. Dekel will distribute a list of the convicts Israel was prepared to release and will place responsibility for their continued incarceration on Hamas’ obstinacy.

Israel Justice Minister Friedman said at the end of Tuesday’s Israeli cabinet meeting, “Hamas is going to discover that there are lines that the State of Israel cannot cross.”

Mr. Olmert asked Attorney General Meni Mazuz to participate on the committee in order to examine which measures could legally be taken and which could not.

Additional administrative steps that will be discussed as a means of applying pressure on Hamas include making the supervision of the border crossings stricter and reducing the volume of goods passing through those border crossings to the bare humanitarian minimum.

David Bedein can be reached at dbedein@israelbehindthenews.com