In Brief

Talks Over Shalit Hit Roadblock
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Negotiations for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit have collapsed, according to Hamas.

Mahmoud Zahar of Hamas told the BBC Tuesday that the process to swap prisoners has "failed" over the "interference" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Last month, Netanyahu called on Israeli negotiators to take a tougher stance on the deal being mediated by Germany, reported Reuters.

Hamas was angry that Israel planned to deport dozens of the up to 1,000 Palestinian prisoners to be released in the deal.

Other reports have said that Hamas halted the negotiations after the murder of Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai. Hamas still publicly blames Israel for his assassination, even though its own internal probe reportedly showed that Arab agents killed him.

Shalit was captured by Palestinians during a cross-border raid in June 2006.

Suspicious Objects Linger Near Sea
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel's Port Authority warned all ships in the Mediterranean Sea to be alert for explosive devices floating near beaches in southern Israel.

Beaches remained closed Tuesday, the day the warning was issued, as several suspicious objects were reported off the southern coast.

A day earlier, two explosive devices in barrels were discovered near Ashkelon and Ashdod, according to reports, and deactivated by police sappers.

Also Tuesday, a Kassam rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel.

No injuries were reported. A senior Palestinian source told Ynet Monday evening that the explosives were to be used to attack an Israeli oil rig in southern Israel.

The source said the attacks were a joint operation of several Palestinian terror groups.