Last update - 00:00 11/12/2006
PA source: Hamas to join forces with Hezbollah in prisoner talks
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
Hamas has decided to link any deal for the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit with Hezbollah's negotiations for the release of two IDF reservists kidnapped in a July raid, a senior Palestinian source told Haaretz on Sunday. Hezbollah seeks the release of Lebanese held in Israeli prisons in exchange for the IDF reservists.
This runs contrary to Hamas' approach to date. Until now, Hamas has negotiated with Israel through Egyptian intermediaries - separately from Hezbollah.
The source, who is close to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, claimed Hamas had decided to link its efforts with those of Hezbollah following Syrian and Iranian pressure.
According to the source, Hamas is trying to keep this development from the public because of the heavy criticism leveled against the organization in recent days by the two groups that participated in the raid that resulted in Shalit's abduction.
The groups, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) and the Islamic Army, headed by a former member of the PRC, Mumtaz Durmush, have been critical of Hamas, because it is negotiating over Shalit without consulting them.
The PRC issued a pamphlet last week in which they warned that "no organization should embark on independent announcements on anything having to do with the imprisoned soldier held by the three military organizations."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, said Sunday that "foreign elements are trying to link the Palestinian issue with the Lebanese issue," hinting that Iran was involved.
In an interview to the daily Al-Sharq al-Awsat, published in London, Abul Gheit added that foreign elements were affecting Hamas' decision to delay negotiations on Shalit's release.
The Egyptian minister said that significant progress had been made on the matter of the prisoner exchange, but that foreign interference resulted in negative developments. Despite claims of progress in the negotiations for a prisoner deal, the gap separating the Israeli and Hamas positions remains considerable, the senior Palestinian source said Sunday.
Israel is willing to release 15 female prisoners and minors during the first stage of a deal, which will include the transfer of Shalit to Egypt, the Palestinian source says.
In the second stage of the deal, Israel has agreed to release 15 more female prisoners and between 120 and 200 prisoners. In the second stage, Shalit will be transferred to Israel from Egypt.
Currently, Israel is demanding that all negotiations for the release of prisoners be carried out directly with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
Hamas is demanding that all female prisoners and minors be released during first stage, as well as 100 Hamas prisoners whose identities have yet to be determined. Hamas is demanding the release of 450 prisoners in the second stage.
Hamas is also demanding that Israel commit to the release of some 500 additional prisoners after Shalit is released. The identities of the prisoners will be decided by Hamas.