No ceasefire until soldier comes home: Israel

Israel yesterday set a series of tough conditions for accepting a proposed ceasefire with Hamas, saying there would be no deal until the Islamic militant group releases a captured Israeli soldier.

The unanimous decision by the 11-member Security Cabinet was likely to set back Egyptian efforts to broker a long-term truce in the wake of Israel's harsh military offensive in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip last month. Israel planned to dispatch a senior envoy to Cairo in the coming days for more talks.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened yesterday's meeting to discuss the emerging deal. Israel has been demanding an end to Hamas rocket attacks and arms smuggling, as well as the freedom of Sergeant Gilad Schalit, who was captured in a cross-border raid in June 2006 and has been held in Gaza since then.