'Mashaal: If Israel doesn't yield we will kidnap again
Hamas politburo chief says Hamas will kidnap more IDF soldiers if Israel does not yield to Palestinian demands, meanwhile Abbas briefs Saudi King Abdullah on deteriorating security situation in Gaza
By: Ali Waked
"Hamas is determined to free all the Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails, be it by kidnapping more soldiers or other methods," said Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal on Monday at a rally for Palestinian prisoners in a Damascus refugee camp.
Mashaal said that kidnapped Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit will not be released until Israel yields to Palestinian demands. "If the enemy insists on continuing to refuse to free our prisoners, I am saying here that we have every capability to do again what we have done before," said Mashaal.
The exiled Hamas leader condemned the international silence in the face of "Israel's policy of terror, killing, arrests and siege against the Palestinian people.
"While the leaders of the world already know the name Gilad Shalit by heart, the name of Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker Dr. Aziz Dwaik is of no interest to anyone."
Mashaal reiterated that Hamas' list of demands, including the names of the prisoners they want released, has already been handed over to Israel. "The Israelis initially accepted the list," he said, "but then later they started playing games with various excuses. The enemy is trying to manipulate and use extortion tactics, but I emphasize: Shalit will only be released if our demands are met and only in exchange for the price we have stipulated. We will not give in to their extortions."
Abbas in surprise Saudi visit
Meanwhile on Sunday Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah held an unannounced meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss recent developments in the region.
The meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, came a day after Abbas met with Mashaal in Cairo. Their talks were the first since their blocs formed a coalition government in March under Saudi Arabian mediation.
A Palestinian official said that during Sunday's meeting Abbas briefed Abdullah on the deteriorating security situation in the Gaza Strip and the two discussed ''how to re-establish security (in Gaza) and reactivate the cease-fire."
Within the Palestinian Authority officials said that following Abbas' visit to Riyadh it is expected that the king will either extend a similar invitation to Mashaal or dispatch Saudi envoys to meet with him in Syria.'
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3393559,00.html
Hamas politburo chief says Hamas will kidnap more IDF soldiers if Israel does not yield to Palestinian demands, meanwhile Abbas briefs Saudi King Abdullah on deteriorating security situation in Gaza
By: Ali Waked
"Hamas is determined to free all the Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails, be it by kidnapping more soldiers or other methods," said Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal on Monday at a rally for Palestinian prisoners in a Damascus refugee camp.
Mashaal said that kidnapped Israeli soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit will not be released until Israel yields to Palestinian demands. "If the enemy insists on continuing to refuse to free our prisoners, I am saying here that we have every capability to do again what we have done before," said Mashaal.
The exiled Hamas leader condemned the international silence in the face of "Israel's policy of terror, killing, arrests and siege against the Palestinian people.
"While the leaders of the world already know the name Gilad Shalit by heart, the name of Palestinian Legislative Council Speaker Dr. Aziz Dwaik is of no interest to anyone."
Mashaal reiterated that Hamas' list of demands, including the names of the prisoners they want released, has already been handed over to Israel. "The Israelis initially accepted the list," he said, "but then later they started playing games with various excuses. The enemy is trying to manipulate and use extortion tactics, but I emphasize: Shalit will only be released if our demands are met and only in exchange for the price we have stipulated. We will not give in to their extortions."
Abbas in surprise Saudi visit
Meanwhile on Sunday Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah held an unannounced meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss recent developments in the region.
The meeting in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, came a day after Abbas met with Mashaal in Cairo. Their talks were the first since their blocs formed a coalition government in March under Saudi Arabian mediation.
A Palestinian official said that during Sunday's meeting Abbas briefed Abdullah on the deteriorating security situation in the Gaza Strip and the two discussed ''how to re-establish security (in Gaza) and reactivate the cease-fire."
Within the Palestinian Authority officials said that following Abbas' visit to Riyadh it is expected that the king will either extend a similar invitation to Mashaal or dispatch Saudi envoys to meet with him in Syria.'
http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3393559,00.html
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Israel is put in a very difficult position. The Palestinians have called a lose-lose game, where everything is in Israel's face; everything is 100% clear, but there may not be a way out.
One of the largest critiques of exchanging prisoners has always been that a successful trade always encourages Israel's enemies to turn to kidnapping everytime they want something. If anyone had any doubts, now this is being publicized by the Hamas leadership.
Further, Hamas has put Israel down in the sense that if Israel agrees to a trade-off, Israel is left vulnerable (to further attacks, kidnappings, etc.), Israel is the loser (who gave in), and Israel just released hundreds of potential terrorists.
From the other side, there is much pressure within Israel to abide by Israel's famous policy of retrieving its soldiers in any circumstance, at any cost. That is, Israel needs to get its three boys back, but how?
While the vast majority of Israel would agree that the soldiers must be returned, safely to their homes and families, the same majority would agree that concessions of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners is simply not a fair trade. Looking at the situation, it becomes clear that abiding by a trade is not an option to Israel anyhow, if for no other reason, then for the image that it sends out; exactly the signal that the Arab/Muslim (anti-Israel) world is looking for- the signal that Israel is weak and vulnerable.
Clearly, a different strategy will have to be enacted here by Israel. Hopefully our creativity will not fail us; this is no time for failure.
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