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Last update - 00:32 01/01/2009
Hamas rejects Israel's Gaza cease-fire conditions
By The Associated Press
Tags: Israel news, Gilad Shalit 

The Damascus-based political leader of the militant Palestinian group Hamas said Wednesday that Israel's conditions for a long-term truce with Hamas were unacceptable.

Khaled Meshal said Wednesday that Hamas will not accept Israel's condition that it would only reopen Gaza's border crossings after Hamas releases captive Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, kidnapped by Gaza militants in 2006.

"We were recently informed of [Israel's] conditions for calm... We reject these Israeli conditions. We will not accept them," Meshal said.
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Meshal spoke from Doha, Qatar, where he is on a visit to express his gratitude for Qatar's solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza during Israel's 22-day offensive to rout out Hamas rockets. His remarks were aired on Al-Jazeera satellite television.

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said earlier Wednesday that crossings with Gaza will only open permanently after the issue of Shalit is resolved.

Meshal reiterated that Hamas insists that thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails be released in return for Shalit. Hamas has resisted any linkage between Shalit and the reopening of crossings.

"In response to the child killer, Olmert," Meshaal said, "I say to you in the name of Hamas and in the name of the heroes who are holding Shalit, we will not accept that crossings be opened in return for Shalit."

Meshal added that Hamas wants Palestinian prisoners in return for Shalit's freedom. Israel has in the past rejected the demand, but media reports have said it is softening its position following the recent military offensive in Gaza.

Shalit was captured in June 2006 during a cross-border raid by Hamas-allied militants on an outpost guarded by his tank unit.

Meshal lives in exile in Syria, where he heads Hamas' political bureau and is believed to be its highest leader. He fears an assassination by Israel, which tried to kill him in 1997, when agents sprayed him with poison on a street in Amman, but he survived.

He rarely travels and his movements are mostly kept secret.

Hamas is labeled a terrorist organization by the United States and Israel. There have recently been hints of a rift between the Syria-based Hamas leadership and those in the Gaza Strip.

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      1.   Stupid 00:28  |  Philippe 01/01/09
      2.   Everybody, including Hamas knows Olmert will give it up 00:43  |  Natallie Durson 01/01/09
      3.   Meshal`s Courage 00:46  |  Malach HaMavet 01/01/09
      4.   So that is it. No crossings opened. No deal. A pity but what can 00:03  |  Jo 01/01/09
      5.   Then your children will be hungry... 00:20  |  Dave from Chicago 01/01/09
      6.   Destroy Hamas 00:41  |  Baruch Gold 01/01/09
      7.   #4 Dave-excellent post 00:47  |  Ben 01/01/09
      8.   Mashaal Rejects--OK Keep the Crossings Closed 00:52  |  Ben Khokhma 01/01/09
      9.   Any surprise ? 00:57  |  Johann 01/01/09
      10.   #4-Dave...then your children... 00:07  |  Jabotinsky 01/01/09
      11.   #2 Natalie 00:13  |  Marc 01/01/09
      12.   i wonder who pays for meshal trips,,iran,hamas,the international 00:23  |  terrornator 01/01/09
      13.   Tp Marc (# 10). Great response to Nattalie, but... 00:16  |  flyingdoc57 01/01/09
      14.   Keep Shalit,Keep crossings closed and Gaza can starve 00:45  |  Stern 01/01/09
      15.   Meshal Scarfs Down Lamb Chops And Apple-Mint Jelly In Doha 00:46  |  Jeff Northridge 01/01/09
      16.   The AP left out key information about Meshal... 00:57  |  BBSNews 01/01/09
      17.   Israel wouldn`t open the crossings anyhow 00:59  |  Mark Lincoln 01/01/09
      18.   #4 00:40  |  wrroooong 01/01/09
      19.   #11 Flying Doc 00:20  |  Marc 01/01/09
      20.   the childkiller 00:27  |  fertiledirt 01/01/09
      21.   The illegal government of Hamas. 00:36  |  Jean Van Daem 01/01/09
      22.   We did live with jews for centuries 00:40  |  Nayef 01/01/09
      23.   Nayef #20 will not accept Zionists 00:29  |  David 01/01/09
      24.   Hamas on cease-fire conditions 00:08  |  Elina 01/01/09
      25.   #17 Lincoln - U.S. has open crossing into Mexico 00:23  |  *BEN JABO 01/01/09
      26.   #16 BSnews & you inserted something that wasn`t true 00:10  |  *BEN JABO 01/01/09
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