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Last update - 07:23 22/07/2008 ANALYSIS / Calls to free Shalit obscure Hamas' role in talks By Avi Issacharoff Tags: hamas, israel, gilad shalit The frequent calls for the government to secure the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, as they appear in the Israeli media, create the false impression that the decision to promote negotiations for a deal with Hamas is entirely up to Israel. At times, it seems as though Hamas is not at all a party in the talks, and that solely Israeli intransigence at the demand to free Palestinian prisoners "with blood on their hands" is holding things up. The truth is that the talks to free Shalit are bogged down mainly because of Hamas. To the media, Israeli officials insist that Jerusalem is prepared to release only 450 prisoners. In fact, Israel has already accepted Hamas' demand to release 1,000 detainees. Advertisement The 550-prisoner difference can be chalked up to semantics: Hamas is describing the 1,000 deal as a two-phase transaction, with the additional 550 set to be released two months after the first batch. Israel describes its agreement to release the 550 inmates as "a goodwill gesture toward the Palestinian Authority." But the main obstacle is Hamas' utter intransigence regarding the makeup of the list of 1,000 prisoners. The Islamist organization is demanding the release of some of the masterminds of the deadliest suicide attacks to have hit Israel in the past two decades. Additionally, Hamas has twice canceled the departure of a negotiation team for the Shalit deal. The first time, they stayed home to punish Israel for closing the crossing to Gaza. Then it canceled another to protest Israel's "failure to uphold the cease-fire agreement." Finally, the release of Samir Kuntar and four other Hezbollah militants last week in exchange for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers served to reaffirm the impression among Hamas decision-makers that perseverance and patience - two traits that are tragically lacking on the Israeli side of the border - will eventually pay off. In fact, Hamas is working under the assumption that even though it has made unreasonable demands, the atmosphere Israel's media are producing will force the government to bow down and accept these demands - or at least most of them. Shalit's comrades finish army Tuesday Carter proposal: Exchange Shalit for dozens of Hamas politicians Shalit talks deadlocked as Hamas hangs on to 'asset' Bookmark to del.icio.us   Baptism by fire Bradley Burston offers 10 Mideast traps for Barack Obama to avoid. A second life 'Exodus' passenger makes aliyah six decades after being turned away.   1.   Cause the prisoners to beg hamass to settle! 06:22  |  Neil Golan 22/07/08   2.   There are no guarantees from Hamas to accept their terms... 06:47  |  Smadar 22/07/08   3.   Israel is not in a strong position 07:07  |  Natallie Durson 22/07/08   4.   Liberating kidnapped Israeli soldiers. 08:01  |  Jean Van Daem 22/07/08   5.   shalit 08:23  |  Jay 22/07/08   6.   I see........ 09:16  |  Johnboy 22/07/08   7.   Finally an analysis that makes sense 09:28  |  ZYS 22/07/08   8.   Avi Issacharoff``s not biased, oh dear me, no 09:28  |  Clickfool 22/07/08   9.   Hamas will force Israel to succumb to its demands. 09:37  |  S 22/07/08   10.   THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS 23:54  |  Arik Silverman 22/07/08

Read & React Israel fears scathing U.S. report on its West Bank policies Responses: 266 Fearing Haredi ire, Knesset choir bans women singers at Brown session Responses: 125 Israeli officials: U.S. intervention in minor Palestinian issues may damage ties Responses: 166 'Olmert vowed to keep Jerusalem whole, but that's not why I helped' Responses: 39 Bradley Burston: Ten Mideast traps for Barack Obama to avoid Responses: 38 Rosner's Domain Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) Will Lebanon pay the price for the prisoner swap deal? What will Obama look for in Jerusalem (and Ramallah)? Why does Israel keep agreeing to prisoner swaps? More Headlines 07:28 Israel keen to crack down on East Jerusalem 08:27 ANALYSIS / Timing of second Jerusalem bulldozer attack was amazing 08:33 'No excuses,' says visiting Obama about bulldozer terrorist 05:51 ANALYSIS / Obama visiting Israel to impress Jewish voters, not Israelis 07:50 Hezbollah chief to UN: Ready to swap more prisoners with Israel 07:29 UN: Violence in Gaza dropping, peace developments on rise 04:55 Iran hackers target Israeli Web site over message by Jewish group 01:27 Estelle Getty, peppery oldster in TV's 'Golden Girls,' dies at 84 07:42 Livni: When I'm PM, I want a unity coalition with Labor and Likud 02:55 Talansky to Haaretz: Olmert most astute politician I've met 06:17 Ramallah baker makes Barack bagel in honor of Obama visit 01:48 Olmert government to hold first meeting on global jihad Wednesday 05:31 Man ordered to pay wife NIS 55,000 for refusing to divorce her 06:50 New Clean Air legislation sees heavy fines, jail for polluters Previous Editions Select Day 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul

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