Israel rejects demands to free prisoners for soldier

Israel today rejected demands from Palestinian militants who captured an Israeli soldier to free 1,000 prisoners from its jails and kept up air strikes on the Gaza Strip aimed at winning his release. A Palestinian official said mediators involved in now faltering efforts to free Corporal Gilad Shalit had reported he was alive and stable after being treated for wounds.

“PM Ehud Olmert has reiterated that there will be no deals, that either Shalit will be released or we will act to bring about his release,” said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.

Aircraft fired missiles today at training camps and access routes used by militants to fire rockets at Israel.