Israeli officers accuse Netanyahu of "failure" in prisoner exchange negotiations

Reserve officers in the Israeli army have accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of a “failure” in the management of negotiations with the Islamic Resistance Movement over a prisoner exchange deal. Indirect talks have been held about such a deal to include Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who has been held captive by Palestinian resistance groups in Gaza, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

In a letter published on Hebrew news websites, 36 Israeli officers pointed out a “significant decline” in the level of actual work being done to secure Shalit’s release. They added that “Israel has been unsuccessful so far in exerting real pressure on Hamas in the Gaza Strip; what Mr. Netanyahu has done in this regard is not enough.”

In their letter, the soldiers – including a brigadier-general and two colonels – expressed grave concern at “the failed actions of the [Israeli] government”.