"Israeli" Official: Hamas Ups Ante in Shalit Deal
Source: Al-Manar TV, 29-8-2008
Hamas recently jacked up the number of Palestinian detainees it wants "Israel" to release in exchange for captured soldier Gilad Shalit, from 1,000 to 1,500, a senior "Israeli" government source said.
At a meeting with senior cabinet ministers on Wednesday, both Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin and Ofer Dekel, who was appointed by "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to oversee the negotiations, blamed the sudden increase in Hamas' demands on "Israel's" agreement to a cease-fire with the organization in the Gaza Strip.
Last month's "Operation Al-Redwan" with Hizbullah, in which "Israel" freed Samir Kintar and four other Lebanese in exchange for the bodies of two captured soldiers, also hardened Hamas' stance, war officials said.
An "Israeli" ministerial committee headed by Vice Premier Haim Ramon is slated to discuss the Shalit deal on Sunday, and Olmert has asked it to draft a list of 450 detainees that "Israel" would be willing to release in exchange for the soldier. This would be the first time "Israel" has prepared such a list. Until now, it has merely approved or rejected the names submitted by Hamas.
The Wednesday meeting was attended by Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, War Minister Ehud Barak and senior war officials. Barak reported on his trip to Cairo the day before, during which he discussed the Shalit deal with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
According to the "Israeli" government source, Egypt told Barak that Hamas is currently demanding 1,500 detainees in exchange for Shalit.
Initially, the organization had demanded the release of 450 detainees, and submitted a list of the specific detainees it wanted. A few months ago, it raised its demands to 1,000, with the initial 450 to be freed simultaneously with Shalit and the remainder in stages thereafter. It has now upped its demands again.
Both Diskin and Dekel told the ministers that the cease-fire hardened Hamas' stance by eliminating the pressure "Israel" had been exerting via both military operations and an economic blockade. As a result, Hamas no longer feels any urgency about concluding a deal, they said.
They therefore argued that the only way to conclude the deal was to go back to exerting pressure, even if this endangers the truce. Dekel suggested halting all fuel supplies to Gaza or closing the border crossings that were reopened under the truce.
Barak, in contrast, said "Israel" had to demonstrate a willingness to move toward Hamas' demands. "We embarked on the truce for Gilad Shalit's sake, and we need to utilize this period to achieve progress in the negotiations," he said. "If we demonstrate more willingness, it could be that Hamas will demonstrate more willingness."
The list the ministerial committee is expected to draft on Sunday will include the 70 detainees requested by Hamas whose release "Israel" has already approved, plus an unspecified number of others on Hamas' list whose release is expected to be approved once the cabinet adopts new, more lenient criteria. The remainder will be "Israel's" choice. Once completed, "Israel" will ask Egypt to pass the list on to Hamas.
VICTORY OF HAMAS KEY DECISION MAKING BODIES MAY HAMPER SCHALIT EFFORT
On Thursday, sources in the Gaza Strip told "Israeli" daily The Jerusalem Post that the results of a recent election held for one of Hamas's key decision making bodies are likely to hinder efforts to free Schalit.
The secret ballot was held about 10 days ago for the Shura (Consultative) Council, which is made up of Hamas's senior political and religious leadership and is tasked with discussing all important issues. The names of the Shura Council members are kept secret, although it is believed that some of them are based in a number of Arab countries.
The sources told the Post the vote resulted in a major victory for representatives of the "young guard" in Hamas, most of whom are affiliated with the movement's armed wing, Izzadin Kassam.
The sources described the victory as a "coup" and as a "turning point" in the history of the Islamic resistance organization. "From now on, the armed wing of Hamas is expected to play a bigger role in the decision-making process. Given the fact that Shalit is being held by members of Izzadin Kassam, some of whom are now represented in the Shura Council; Hamas is unlikely to soften its position in the talks on a detainee exchange agreement."
Those elected to the council include Issa al-Nashar, Majdi al-Baba, Fuad al-Nahal, Atallah Abu al-Sabah, Yousef Farhat, Salem Salameh, Abu Ayman Taha and Osama Hammad.
Hamas recently jacked up the number of Palestinian detainees it wants "Israel" to release in exchange for captured soldier Gilad Shalit, from 1,000 to 1,500, a senior "Israeli" government source said.
At a meeting with senior cabinet ministers on Wednesday, both Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin and Ofer Dekel, who was appointed by "Israeli" Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to oversee the negotiations, blamed the sudden increase in Hamas' demands on "Israel's" agreement to a cease-fire with the organization in the Gaza Strip.
Last month's "Operation Al-Redwan" with Hizbullah, in which "Israel" freed Samir Kintar and four other Lebanese in exchange for the bodies of two captured soldiers, also hardened Hamas' stance, war officials said.
An "Israeli" ministerial committee headed by Vice Premier Haim Ramon is slated to discuss the Shalit deal on Sunday, and Olmert has asked it to draft a list of 450 detainees that "Israel" would be willing to release in exchange for the soldier. This would be the first time "Israel" has prepared such a list. Until now, it has merely approved or rejected the names submitted by Hamas.
The Wednesday meeting was attended by Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, War Minister Ehud Barak and senior war officials. Barak reported on his trip to Cairo the day before, during which he discussed the Shalit deal with Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
According to the "Israeli" government source, Egypt told Barak that Hamas is currently demanding 1,500 detainees in exchange for Shalit.
Initially, the organization had demanded the release of 450 detainees, and submitted a list of the specific detainees it wanted. A few months ago, it raised its demands to 1,000, with the initial 450 to be freed simultaneously with Shalit and the remainder in stages thereafter. It has now upped its demands again.
Both Diskin and Dekel told the ministers that the cease-fire hardened Hamas' stance by eliminating the pressure "Israel" had been exerting via both military operations and an economic blockade. As a result, Hamas no longer feels any urgency about concluding a deal, they said.
They therefore argued that the only way to conclude the deal was to go back to exerting pressure, even if this endangers the truce. Dekel suggested halting all fuel supplies to Gaza or closing the border crossings that were reopened under the truce.
Barak, in contrast, said "Israel" had to demonstrate a willingness to move toward Hamas' demands. "We embarked on the truce for Gilad Shalit's sake, and we need to utilize this period to achieve progress in the negotiations," he said. "If we demonstrate more willingness, it could be that Hamas will demonstrate more willingness."
The list the ministerial committee is expected to draft on Sunday will include the 70 detainees requested by Hamas whose release "Israel" has already approved, plus an unspecified number of others on Hamas' list whose release is expected to be approved once the cabinet adopts new, more lenient criteria. The remainder will be "Israel's" choice. Once completed, "Israel" will ask Egypt to pass the list on to Hamas.
VICTORY OF HAMAS KEY DECISION MAKING BODIES MAY HAMPER SCHALIT EFFORT
On Thursday, sources in the Gaza Strip told "Israeli" daily The Jerusalem Post that the results of a recent election held for one of Hamas's key decision making bodies are likely to hinder efforts to free Schalit.
The secret ballot was held about 10 days ago for the Shura (Consultative) Council, which is made up of Hamas's senior political and religious leadership and is tasked with discussing all important issues. The names of the Shura Council members are kept secret, although it is believed that some of them are based in a number of Arab countries.
The sources told the Post the vote resulted in a major victory for representatives of the "young guard" in Hamas, most of whom are affiliated with the movement's armed wing, Izzadin Kassam.
The sources described the victory as a "coup" and as a "turning point" in the history of the Islamic resistance organization. "From now on, the armed wing of Hamas is expected to play a bigger role in the decision-making process. Given the fact that Shalit is being held by members of Izzadin Kassam, some of whom are now represented in the Shura Council; Hamas is unlikely to soften its position in the talks on a detainee exchange agreement."
Those elected to the council include Issa al-Nashar, Majdi al-Baba, Fuad al-Nahal, Atallah Abu al-Sabah, Yousef Farhat, Salem Salameh, Abu Ayman Taha and Osama Hammad.
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