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Reason to record / Using propoganda, seeking credibility
By Yossi Melman

The 72-second recording of Gilad Shalit's voice has several objectives. Hamas wants to resume negotiations for a prisoner exchange and to agitate the Israeli public by portraying the government as recalcitrant, while hinting at a deterioration in Shalit's health.

The message also aims to deflect Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian and international pressure, to divert attention from the Sharm summit and to reposition Hamas as a central player in the region.

But the cassette is also a sort of distress signal. Since its takeover of the Gaza Strip, Hamas has been in shock. Divided between its military and political wings and between its Damascus and Gaza leaderships, Hamas does not know how to cope with its victory. And the blockade on the group is tightening, especially following the Egyptians' refusal to negotiate with it.

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Hamas' readiness to release the tape is a sign of weakness. It is safe to assume that another terror group, certainly Al-Qaida and likely also Hezbollah, would not have enabled releasing the tape without charging a price from Israel. Palestinian groups, especially Hezbollah, have in the past obtained concessions from Israel in exchange for information or other identifying details. Hamas has waived that possibility.

The departure of the Egyptian delegation from Gaza cut off Israel's indirect contacts with Hamas' military wing, which is holding Shalit. Israel is willing to release 450 prisoners in two stages. Hamas is demanding more. Hamas included senior Palestinian figures such as Marwan Barghouti and numerous terrorists whom Israel refuses to release.

By releasing the recording, Hamas is trying to both convey credibility and achieve a propaganda effect, all the while pressuring Israel. It is trying to create the impression that Shalit's comments are reliable even though every word was very obviously dictated to him given the clumsy syntax of the captors' translation.

However, the tape has none of the rote denunciations of Israel, Zionism and the West that other fundamentalist groups usually oblige their captives to recite.

Shalit states his rank and the fact that he is a soldier who was sent on a military mission. Another reflection of trying to balance between credibility and propaganda is Shalit's mention of his deteriorating health. But immediately after the tape's release, Hamas' spokesman told Channel Two that Shalit was still receiving medical treatment.

Israeli officials involved in the talks on Shalit's release are convinced that Hamas is providing Shalit with the best medical treatment it can, because Shalit is its best bargaining chip.

On the other hand, Shalit's accusing the government of not doing enough to release him is a clear attempt at propaganda.

The two-fold symbolism of the timing of the video's release is also clear. Hamas released the tape on the anniversary of Shalit's abduction and on the day of the Sharm conference, which is intended to weaken Hamas and bring about its surrender.
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  1.   Don`t console youerself,it`s Israel which is weak 11:47  |  Absolute Sweden 26/06/07
  2.   Hamas are lost bufoons 15:16  |  ScotGuy 26/06/07
  3.   Increase the pressure on Hamas 15:24  |  Gili 26/06/07
  4.   Youve got to be Joking Right?? 15:51  |  Emma 26/06/07
  5.   an achievement 16:35  |  Shmuelshachor 26/06/07
  6.   Hamas seeking credibility? 16:38  |  Natasha 26/06/07
  7.   Where Is Barak? 16:41  |  Yoram 26/06/07
  8.   Martydom 18:01  |  Avrum 26/06/07
  9.   CUT OFF WATER, ELECTRICITY, GAS TO GAZA UNTIL HE`S RELEASED 20:31  |  don 26/06/07
  10.   The Recording 22:51  |  Jack 26/06/07
  11.   Cut off electricity, water and humanitarian aid. 16:59  |  Evan Stone 27/06/07
  12.   Here is the best way to secure the release of Schalit. 17:08  |  Tex 28/06/07
  13.   hamas 20:56  |  Ilisa Kleifield 28/06/07
  14.   Hamas is legitimate government 02:19  |  Clive 30/06/07
  15.   world wakeup 03:11  |  chip 30/06/07
  16.   Reason to record 06:19  |  Dr.Michael C.Golding 30/06/07
  17.   response to Dr micheal C Golding 06:58  |  William Benett 01/07/07
  18.   Is Dr Mike a false prophet? 04:29  |  Reader 03/07/07
  19.   You are short sighted 05:07  |  B Degaulle 04/07/07
  20.   YOU ARE A SICK DEPERATE DESPOT 05:13  |  B Degaulle 04/07/07
  21.   Re "Mr. Golding", who can`t spell "Israel" 07:30  |  sg 04/07/07
  22.   Clive 07:35  |  sg 04/07/07
  23.   you´re not palestinian 19:18  |  leighleigh 04/07/07
  24.   Cutting off Utilities to Gaza 20:34  |  Ed Lugan 04/07/07
  25.   Why can`t they do better? 14:37  |  Don 05/07/07
  26.   Release Israeli soldier: Schalit 17:50  |  Tommi Harkins 05/07/07
  27.   Hamas elected?? 19:43  |  Bob 05/07/07
  28.   shalit 18:43  |  howie 07/07/07
  29.   Different rule for different people 08:43  |  Reyaz 08/07/07
  30.   Hamas Unhuman mark 23:58  |  Mike 08/07/07
  31.   Release Israeli soldier: Schalit 00:24  |  Mike 09/07/07
  32.   Bomb Those dogs to inhiliation 00:32  |  Mike 09/07/07
  33.   Hamas seeking credibility? 00:39  |  Mike 09/07/07
  34.   Hamas and Gilad Shalit 17:26  |  Nahlayi Lesheavar 10/07/07
  35.   Mike # 32 17:40  |  Nahal 10/07/07
  36.   But Howie... 02:06  |  Reader 11/07/07
  37.   Hamas....bit off more than they thought 03:02  |  Samuel Colt 13/07/07
  38.   Hamas....Very quick solution to Gaza problem 03:22  |  Mike S/F 13/07/07
  39.   Hamas does look bad. 04:48  |  David 16/07/07
  40.   great idea 04:52  |  David 16/07/07
  41.   nothing but thugs and thieves 04:54  |  David Logan 16/07/07
  42.   arab countries 05:08  |  dave 16/07/07
  43.   right on 05:09  |  David 16/07/07
  44.   MidEast crisis and humanitarian respect 03:26  |  ER 17/07/07
  45.   CUT OFF WATER AND ELECTRICITY TO ISRAEL, FREE PALESTINE 09:15  |  SEV 17/07/07
  46.   there will be peace 20:11  |  bill 17/07/07
  47.   Hamus 03:02  |  tommi Harkins 18/07/07
  48.   Hammas & Gilat Shalit 00:20  |  Lucy 19/07/07
  49.   Stop xenophobia !!! plzzzzzzzzzzz 22:46  |  ben 25/07/07
  50.   Emma`s a hippie Leftie 18:56  |  Freedom`s never free 28/07/07
  51.   Reason to record / Using propoganda, seeking credibility 20:56  |  Adam Granell 28/07/07
  52.   Let slip the dogs of war 19:29  |  Wendy 30/07/07
  53.   Israel: A country or Angloamericain State? 00:10  |  Muntu 01/08/07
  54.   Hamas won nothing 17:49  |  Neil 02/08/07
  55.   Huhhhh ???? 22:53  |  Paul 04/08/07
  56.   it`s propAganda, not propOganda 15:01  |  propaganda 07/08/07
  57.   to mike 23:07  |  joel 07/08/07
  58.   Truth in knowledge&Wisdom in words 13:18  |  secertslave 08/08/07
  59.   Reason to record / Using propoganda, seeking credibility 20:58  |  Geting with Reality 09/08/07
  60.   Israels existence is threatened. 16:50  |  Tom 13/08/07
  61.   Emma 16:53  |  Tom 13/08/07
  62.   using prop, seek cred 21:37  |  susan bergman 13/08/07
  63.   Democra-zy 21:42  |  Alex 13/08/07
  64.   Israel 21:38  |  scorpion 14/08/07
  65.   The Real Culprit 22:02  |  Scorpion 14/08/07
  66.   Re: hamas is legitimate gov`t 22:15  |  M Johnson 14/08/07
  67.   One Way to peace 02:08  |  Brenda Ann Mcberry 15/08/07
  68.   Truth in knowledge &Wisdom in Words 02:20  |  Brenda McBerry 15/08/07
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