Family members of Hamas men held in Israeli prisons should be denied visitation rights until the Red Cross is allowed to visit kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Schalit, held by Hamas in Gaza since he was kidnapped in June 2006, Army Radio reported Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman as saying Monday evening.

Lieberman's comments came hours after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert promised Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas that he would push for a prisoner release ahead of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan. In his response to the meeting, the strategic affairs minister insisted that no prisoner release should be considered.

"It's the Palestinians' turn to make goodwill gestures," Strategic Affairs Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beitenu) said. (Tourism) Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch and I intend to oppose the gesture promised to (Palestinian President Mahmoud) Abbas by the prime minister."