OCCUPIED JERUSALEM — Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert's refusal to free Palestinian women and minors held in Israeli jails to facilitate the release of a soldier held by Palestinian resistance groups drew fire even from inside Israel.

"If it is needed and will bring to the release of the soldier, a prisoner exchange can't be ruled out," Israeli lawmaker Zahava Gal-On was quoted as saying by the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot.

"The safety of the kidnapped soldier must be at the top of the prime minister's priorities.

"The government must give supreme precedence to returning the soldier, even if Israel must pay a price for this."

Three Palestinian resistance groups said Israel would not get information about Corporal Gilad Shalit unless it frees all detained Palestinian women and minors.

The groups had jointly claimed an operation against an Israeli military post during which two soldiers were killed and a tank gunner seized.

Olmert dismissed the request outright.

"The question of releasing prisoners is not on the agenda of the Israeli government at all," he said.

"There will be no negotiations, no bargaining, no agreements."

Surprised

A Palestinian youth holds a picture of his jailed brother in Israeli jails. (Reuters)

Knesset member Ran Cohen also blasted Olmert's position over the prisoners' issue.

"I was surprised by the comments of the prime minister who said there was nothing to talk about on negotiations and exchanging prisoners," he said.

"There should be negotiations with whoever we can talk to, including Hamas."

Palestinians say Israel is holding 126 Palestinian women and 450 minors for alleged security offenses.

All in all, there are nearly 9800 Palestinians being held in Israeli jails and detention centers.

Israeli occupation forces have arrested one-fifth of the Palestinians in the occupied territories or 650,000 people since the 1967 war, according to a recent report by the Palestinian Ministry of Detainees and the Released Prisoners.

The report also slammed the appalling prison conditions, noting that some 181 prisoners died in Israeli custody.

Prisoners are additionally abused and beaten by their Israeli jailers, and subjected to humiliating body searches, it said.

Olmert has threatened a more extended military offensive against Palestinians in Gaza.

Thousands of troops have been massed on the Gaza border, poised for a major offensive against the impoverished area.

Scores of Israeli tanks and armored vehicles lined up in farmland near the Kerem Shalom crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel with their turrets and guns pointing straight towards the Palestinian territory.

Israeli army radio also reported deployments of two infantry regiments and two armored battalions, which would put the concentration of troops at around 5,000.

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