Arab media watch: July 6

Al Bayan (UAE), editorial

The "Gaza calamity" has entered the 'nail biting' phase. Israel is insisting on getting her soldier back regardless of the price (and without any restrictions or conditions).

The Palestinian front has been adamant from the start to negotiate with Israel on its own terms.

They have maintained that they wouldn't threaten the soldier's life and emphasized their willingness to work towards finding a suitable exit for him.

In return, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's government responded by increasing their aggression against the [Gaza] Strip and threatening with various things; Every day, they are coming up with a new 'tone' of terror like 'suffocating Gaza', 'depriving the people of Gaza from sleep', giving their army the green light to 'invade' Gaza, threatening to 'drop the skies on Palestinians' heads' and finally, giving the Palestinians the 'final blow'.

Al Quds Al Arabi (UK-based), editorial

The Israeli government is living a state of confusion and nervousness. Moreover, the firing of two Qassam rockets at Ashkelon in South Palestine by Hamas's military wing has given the Olmert government a new quandary.

Israeli nervousness is exemplified in the recent threats by Israeli Foreign Minister towards Syria (asking Syria to release information about the captured soldier and warning of repercussions if they don't cooperate).

Syria does not know anything about the captive and we doubt that representatives of Hamas in Syria were told of the operation prior to its execution.

Mr. Khaled Mashaal is not known for getting involved in military operations or of managing the military wing in the first place. His role has always been limited to representing the [Hamas] movement politically and publicly.

Al Watan (Qatar), comment by Abbas Mousa

Gilad Shalit is finally a "prisoner of war and not a kidnapped person". Israel confessed and this means that the return of the captured soldier will take place according to international practices.

But the Palestinian side is always an exception. Israel has geared its militaristic and diplomatic power towards finding the soldier and taking him back to Israel.

They have citied this as their main condition to ending their aggressive policies in Gaza and the Palestinian territories.

What have the Arabs done? Egypt, the country that never reacted to its captured soldiers in Sinai during its bloody episode and fierce wars with Israel, is playing the most visible role in pressuring the Palestinians to release the captured soldier.

Where was this diplomacy when the Egyptians had to gather the remains of their sons in Sinai?

Addustour (Jordan), editorial

Israel does not want to hand back the Israeli soldier on the basis of demands made by Palestinian factions.

The Jewish country would rather 'see his body' instead of negotiating with them on the release of Palestinians prisoners. This would 'justify' their savage invasion of the Gaza Strip.

As for the Palestinian factions, the Israeli soldier is a hostage "made of gold" and cannot be released under any political reasoning - and without making profit of the situation.

The most important thing is to try to release a large number of Palestinian prisoners.

Even if the Palestinians release the Israeli soldier first thing tomorrow, the Israeli army will not stop its savage aggression against Gaza, or stop their determination in causing permanent damage to Gaza's infrastructure.