Israel Ready for Captured Soldier Deal

[ Video Courtesy of NTDTV ]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said in a live television address on Thursday that he is willing to free 1,000 Palestinians in return for Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured by Hamas militants four years ago.

While Netanyahu offered to free 1,000 prisoners, he also said that the country could not “pay any price” for the release of the soldier.

“Dangerous terrorists will not return to the areas of Judea and Samaria [the West Bank] from where they can continue to harm Israel’s citizens,” said Netanyahu, according to Reuters.

The PM said that releasing “top terrorists” would only give rise to new terrorist attacks.

Meanwhile Hamas has said that Israel would have to include in the prisoner release, 450 prisoners jailed for violent attacks on Israelis, according to Reuters.

Since Shalit’s kidnap in 2006 by seven armed men, his whereabouts remain unknown.