Talks on recovering Israeli hostage fail - TV

JERUSALEM, June 27 (Reuters) Egyptian- and French-led efforts to negotiate for the release of an Israeli soldier abducted by Palestinian gunmen in the Gaza Strip have failed, Israeli television reported today.

Quoting a source close to the mediators, Channel Two said there was ''zero chance'' of recovering Corporal Gilad Shalit through talks, bringing closer the prospect of a major Israeli military sweep of Gaza.

But a mediator reached by Reuters said it was too early to call it quits. ''It will be a few hours yet until we know it is hopeless,'' the mediator said on condition of anonymity.

Egypt, a key mediator during more than five years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting, has been trying to defuse the crisis sparked by Shalit's capture on Sunday. The hostage also holds French citizenship, prompting Paris to join mediation efforts.

Reuters HS VP0012