Netanyahu: Israel knows more today about the kidnapped teens than it did a few days ago

PM once again says he expects Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to remove Hamas from his government.

By HERB KEINON
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. (photo credit: AVI OHAYON - GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.
(photo credit: AVI OHAYON - GPO)
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Thursday afternoon that Israel was doing everything in its power to bring back the three teenaged boys kidnapped a week ago, and that more information is known now than a few days ago.
He did not, however, provide any new details.
Netanyahu, who said that the IDF and security services were working around the clock -- both in carrying out operations and gathering intelligence -- still counseled patience.
He pointed out that the IDF was taking action against Hamas, and that in the last two days has returned to prison more than 50 Palestinians who were released in the prisoner swap for Gilad Schalit. Netanyahu said that he expected Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to remove Hamas from his government.
“We will pursue our enemies and do everything to bring the boys home,” he said.
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, speaking alongside Netanyahu, said that bringing the youth back to their families was a supreme objective that was pushing all other objectives to the side.  He praised the Fraenkel, Shaer, and Yifrah families, whom he met on Wednesday, for their strength.
Of the prisoners released in the Schalit deal who were arrested  over the last two days and are now expected to serve the remainder of their commuted sentence are four terrorists who were serving multiple life sentences, 13 who were serving life sentences, two serving sentences of more than 30 years, 17 serving between 20 to 30 years, and 5 serving up to 20 years.