Amos Harel, Avi Issacharoff, and Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondents: Sources: Hamas' inflexibility, Egypt tensions stalling Shalit talks
Talkback
Title: Both sides are disinterested in Shalits release Name: Natallie Durson City: Los Angeles State: CA
For Hamas: The Shalit affair is a very high profile demonstration that Hamas can openly defy Israel over an extended period of time and Israel can do nothing about it. Additionally, this case keeps Israelis in an uproar and dissatisfied with their leadership. It is in Hamas interest to prolong Shalits captivity. For Israel: Currently Israel is making no real progress on peace, but, at the same time, has doubled the rate of west bank expansion. America has complained very vocally about both these issues but Israel claims preoccupation with various "security issues". The Shalit case "sucks up the oxygen" of the media and very visably paints Israel as victim to "terrorists". Israel would much rather have this in the news and not the west bank expansion and lack of peace progress. It is in Israels interest to prolong Shalits captivity.