Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., April 28, 2009 Iyyar 4, 5769 | | Israel Time: 06:28 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File TLV 100
Last update - 08:45 21/03/2009
Hamas: We'll kidnap more soldiers if Israel doesn't show flexibility
By Haaretz Service
Tags: Gaza, Meshal, Hamas 

Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal on Friday told the Sydney Morning Herald that Israel should show more flexibility in the face of Hamas demands in exchange for captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, or otherwise risk more of its troops being abducted by Hamas.

Shalit was kidnapped by militants in the Gaza Strip, ruled by Hamas, in a cross-border raid in 2006. Hamas has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some of them directly involved in the murder of Israeli citizens, from Israeli prisons in return for Shalit's freedom.

In the interview with the Australian daily conducted from Meshal's bunker south of Damascus, the Hamas leader called on U.S. President Barack Obama to radically modify American foreign policy in the Middle East. In light of his predecessor's "failure in the region," Meshal pleaded that Washington not leave the Middle East peace process solely in the hands of regional players, stressing that only the U.S. could affect any real change in Israel's policies.
Advertisement
"We're willing to open a new page with the U.S. and Europe," Meshal was quoted by the Herald as saying. "Obama will continue to repeat the mistakes of those who went before him unless there is a marked change."

The Hamas leader expanded on the organization's desire to open a "new page," but did not mean that Hamas will do the opening, but rather that Hamas required the U.S. and the European Union to open a new page with the Islamists.

"I don't mean that Hamas will take a new [policy] position. I'm talking about a readiness on our part to deal with Washington and Europe. But they have to be serious about dealing with us on Palestinian rights," he was quoted as saying.

Meshal stressed in the interview his view that the West must abandon its decision to isolate Hamas until the Islamist group succumbs to the dictates of the West in terms of its relations with Israel, saying "They've been trying the wrong way and the wrong approach."

He criticized Obama's appointment of special Mideast envoy George Mitchell, who has already visited the region twice since his appointment, saying the appointment could have no more than a minor affect, because he is not authorized to speak with Hamas. "Would he have succeeded in Belfast if he was ordered to ignore the IRA?" Meshal asked the Herald interviewer.

Meshal also criticized Mitchell's colleague, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, over her repeated warnings to the world to keep donations meant for the rebuilding of Gaza, following Israel's three-week offensive, out of the "wrong hands."

"Despite all this, Hamas has advanced and grown, [so] within the logic of real politick, it is Washington that must reconsider its position if they want to achieve an outcome that is not failure," the Hamas leader concluded.

Related articles:
  • Hamas: Israel faces more abducted soldiers if it invades Gaza
  • 'Hamas demands for Shalit are unacceptable'
  • Hamas condemns Gaza rocket strikes on Israel
  • Meshal urges West: Stop trying to eliminate Hamas, deal with us
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Memorial Day 2009
    Israel honors its fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks.
    Making swine flu kosher
    Mexico Flu - a symptom of the disease of Israeli politics.
      1.   Meshal Is Wrong On All Points 20:32  |  Magna 20/03/09
      2.   Put GPS tracking chip in all Israeli soldiers 20:56  |  Baruch Gold 20/03/09
      3.   Gaza , Hamas , and the U.S. 20:57  |  Bob R. 20/03/09
      4.   they still would kidnap 21:19  |  ross 20/03/09
      5.   TRUE I guarantee Ham will kidnap again if/when Shalit is swaped 21:23  |  Alan SA 20/03/09
      6.   Hamas - Lets get the Protestors ready 21:43  |  Unchel Ben-Joseph 20/03/09
      7.   #2 GPS tracking chips 23:40  |  binny 20/03/09
      8.   Chips in Israeli Soldiers 23:43  |  M. 20/03/09
      9.   Khaled Meshal 01:59  |  Rambo 21/03/09
      10.   Half the news 02:17  |  Rafael of Sydney 21/03/09
      11.   Uneven Playing Field 02:22  |  Cool B 21/03/09
      12.   #7 bunny + 02:59  |  Space 21/03/09
      13.   Meshal, the Hamas leader from afar 04:12  |  Lola 21/03/09
      14.   ISRAEL;WE´WILL ARREST MORE REPRESENTATIVES OF HAMAS , 04:36  |  J LASHAK-KOROGODSKY 21/03/09
      15.   Well, gosh! 04:40  |  Heather Czerniak 21/03/09
      16.   Cool B 04:42  |  Mary Witherspoon 21/03/09
      17.   Appropriate Action 10:22  |  Tibor Jeno 21/03/09
      18.   Encouraging Kidnapping 14:02  |  Steve 21/03/09
      19.   Abductions by hamas. 19:16  |  Label 22/03/09
      20.   Israel to hire Assasins ....... 05:39  |  The Archives 28/04/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Durban II conference
    Air strike in Sudan
    Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    More Headlines
    02:06 Israel honors fallen IDF soldiers, terror victims
    05:53 'Every step that strengthens Hamas only distances peace'
    05:55 Barak: Israel can and must make peace within three years
    00:28 Israel: PA recognition of Jewish state 'crucial' for reconciliation
    05:56 U.S. envoy to visit Gulf over Iran's nuclear program
    05:58 Venezuela and PA establish official ties in wake of Gaza war
    06:01 'I thought I could be kidnapped, then I thought of my daughter'
    06:03 Ten Sudanese refugees head back home in pilot mission
    21:43 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    06:05 Israel to celebrate 61st birthday with concerts, military shows
    06:07 Border Policeman gets 8 years for killing Palestinian in 2002
    06:09 Lod cops uncover Heroin stash in preschool raid
    06:13 Only state-run Jewish-Arab school threatened with closure
    06:11 Iraqi Israelis scramble for family 'hidden treasure' in U.K.
    06:15 Workmen in Poland find letter written by Auschwitz inmates
    22:28 Could the Taliban get the bomb before Iran does?
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    The Meier on Rothschild Tower
    Masterpiece Residence in the Heart of Tel Aviv
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved