G8 takes strong stance on settlements, Gaza and Gilad Shalit

Last week, prior to its meeting in Italy, the G8 issued a statement calling for a settlement freeze in the West Bank. This week, the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations called for the immediate release of Gilad Shalit, and for the crossings in Gaza to be opened without delay.

From Ynet:

The Group of Eight (G8) powers called for a freeze in Jewish settlement construction in the West Bank and urged all parties to "re-enter direct negotiations on all standing issues consistent with the Road Map," according to a final draft statement seen by Reuters on Friday.

Haaretz reports:

The Group of Eight leading industrialized nations called on Thursday for the immediately release of Gilad Shalit, after Egyptian-brokered talks to secure the kidnapped Israeli soldier's release had come to a standstill.

The call came as an Egyptian official charged with mediating between Israel and the Palestinians for Shalit's release visited Ramallah on Thursday for talks with Palestinian Authority leaders.

The Jerusalem Post reports:

Amos Gilad, the Defense Ministry's diplomatic-military bureau chief, arrived in Cairo on Thursday for a brief visit during which he is to conduct talks with Egyptian Intelligence chief Omar Suleiman on the efforts to reach a deal with Hamas, which could lead to the release of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, Arab media outlets said.

Recent reports claimed that Israel and Hamas were about to renew talks on Schalit's release, though Hamas on Wednesday denied receiving any official announcement from Egypt on the topic.

Haaretz summarizes the current status of negotiations on Shalit:

The Egyptian-brokered talks between Israel and Hamas are to be resumed soon with the participation of Hagai Hadas, the prime minister's newly appointed negotiator for Shalit's release, Egyptian sources reported earlier this week.
In addition to taking up the Shalit issue, the G8 also called for the opening of Gaza crossings.

On Wednesday, Israeli defense sources said that a freeze in reconciliation negotiations between the rival Palestinian factions has also brought efforts to negotiate Shalit's release to a standstill. The soldier has been in Hamas captivity since he was abducted in a 2006 cross-border raid from the Gaza Strip.

The sources say the likelihood of a speedy deal to release Shalit is slim.

Recent optimistic statements made by Egyptian mediators and American and European officials were based on Cairo's efforts to reconcile the two rival Palestinian factions.

Egypt stated officially last month that it was planning to bring the parties to sign a reconciliation agreement on July 7. But the Hamas-Fatah talks stagnated more than a week ago and their scheduled resumption on July 25 is doubtful, following the objection of Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas. Other PA leaders want to delay talks until August.

Egypt's hope of bringing about Shalit's release was also based on its expectations of brokering an internal Palestinian reconciliation. The Egyptians hoped that such an agreement and its achievements would have generated a positive atmosphere that would have encouraged Hamas to be flexible about Shalit.

In Arutz Sheva:

The G8 also called for Israel to open its crossings with Gaza to allow trade and travel. Currently the crossings are open to humanitarian aid and people in need of medical treatment only. Egypt has opened its crossings to Muslim pilgrims to Mecca as well.

While pressing for Gaza crossings to be opened, the G8 nations stressed that Israel should not be forced to compromise its security. Gaza terrorists frequently target crossings in attacks, and have attempted to smuggle weapons and chemicals disguised as humanitarian aid through crossings.