Abbas urges Hamas to hand over Shalit

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas to transfer captured IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit into his custody so that he could negotiate with Israel over his release, it was reported on Tuesday. Abbas told London-based newspaper al-Sharq al-Awsat that Israel was prepared to release many Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the kidnapped soldier. Israel Radio reported that the PA chairman criticized Hamas and said that Shalit's release was a condition for the establishment of a PA unity government.