Sunday, July 20, 2008 Hamas: 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit

Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

While the front page headline of the Hebrew Edition of Haaretz reads
"Hamas: 1,000 prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit"
www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1003459.html

The English edition title reads: "Hamas: Shalit talks on hold, Israel not
meeting truce terms"

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Hamas: Shalit talks on hold, Israel not meeting truce terms
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies Last update - 00:00
20/07/2008
www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1003465.html

Hamas confirmed Saturday that the talks for the release of Israel Defense
Forces soldier Gilad Shalit were on hold. A senior Hamas figure said that
once the group understood that Israel was not fulfilling its end of the
cease-fire agreement, it had decided that continuing the Shalit talks would
be futile at this time.

The source told Haaretz it is unlikely a Hamas delegation will depart for
Cairo where renewed talks on a possible exchange deal would take place under
an Egyptian aegis.

However, despite the charges directed at Israel, Palestinian sources believe
Hamas isn't willing to be flexible about Shalit at this time due to the
recent prisoner swap with Hezbollah.

The same sources noted that the release of Samir Kuntar has led Hamas to the
conclusion that the radical Islamic organization should stick to its
demands, which includes the release of 1,000 prisoners, many of whom were
sentenced to life in prison for their role in suicide bomb attacks.

At a political rally in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, Ismail Haniyeh, who was
prime minister in a Hamas-led Palestinian government, called on Interior
Minister Said Sayam, to issue Samir Kuntar a diplomatic passport.

In an aggressive tone, Haniyeh told the crowd in Gaza that Hamas will not
give in on "any issue" related to the release of Shalit.

Hamas will insist on the release of prisoners who were sentenced to life in
prison. He concluded his speech by shouting "Jerusalem is ours, Gaza, Haifa,
Jaffa, all of them are ours."

Meanwhile, a member of Fatah was shot and killed early in the northern Gaza
Strip on Saturday morning, after his home came under attack by militants.

Witnesses said that gunmen attacked the house of Abdel Salam Abu Taqia, 23,
near Jabaliya refugee camp and killed him.

Hours later, Hamas announced the murderer was arrested, and claimed the
incident was motivated by family differences.