Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., April 23, 2008 Nisan 18, 5768 | | Israel Time: 12:03 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai meeting last week with former U.S. president Jimmy Carter at the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry. (Nir Keidar) Last update - 05:58 22/04/2008 Shas MKs slam their party head's push to meet Meshal By Mazal Mualem Tags: Hamas, Eli Yishai, Shas Shas chair Eli Yishai came in for criticism Monday from colleagues in his party, who said it was strange that the party leader should be calling on Israel to stop its virtual negotiations with Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas, and on the other hand has said he is willing to meet with Hamas political bureau head Khaled Meshal. The sources within Shas were referring to Yishai's request to former U.S. president Jimmy Carter, to help arrange a meeting with Meshal for the purpose of expediting the release of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit. Yishai, who is also deputy prime minister and minister of industry, trade and employment, is on the right flank of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's cabinet, but was the only senior member of the government who agreed to meet with Carter. His moves have surprised his fellow party members and officials dealing with Shalit's release. Advertisement Other right-wing parties, first and foremost Likud, have not let up in their criticism of Shas for remaining in a government that is "selling" Jerusalem to Hamas. Yishai knew that Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak had refused to meet with Carter because the latter was going to meet directly with the Hamas leadership. Nevertheless, he chose to hold two meetings with Carter, one before the American set off from Israel to meet Meshal in Damascus, and the second yesterday, after his return. Yishai's declaration that he wanted to meet with Meshal to help bring Shalit back to his family was widely covered by the media, and was also slammed by government officials who saw it as a deviation from Israel's official line and granting a kind of legitimization to Hamas. These officials said they were surprised at Yishai's statements, since his public position opposes talks with Hamas. Government officials took pains Monday to explain that Yishai's statements reflect only his own opinion and not Israel's official position. Olmert's bureau chose not to respond to Yishai's diplomatic initiatives. Yishai explained Monday that he is being guided by the commandment to redeem captives, that Shas' spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, told him explicitly to do whatever he could to bring Shalit home, and that he would not stop his efforts. "I am willing to waste 100 hours of my own time to save Shalit one hour in captivity," Yishai reportedly told Carter. Yishai also sees himself as a leader with independent views who wants to prove that he is also a player on the diplomatic front. His aides say that he is demonstrating that Shas is not an extremist party, and just as it spoke out boldly 20 years ago on its willingness to trade territory for peace, and supported the Oslo process, now too, Shas was breaking ground rather than following protocol and political rules. "I don't want to wake up in five years and find out that now it is permissible to meet with Hamas, and meanwhile Shalit is still in captivity," Yishai reportedly told his aides recently. Related articles: Yishai to Carter: Tell Meshal that I want to discuss prisoner swap Talks with Hamas / One stage or many? Meshal offers 10-year truce for Palestinian state on '67 borders Bookmark to del.icio.us   Double agent U.S. arrests American over suspected nuclear espionage for Israel. Conspiracy theory Al-Qaida: Hezbollah started rumor that Israel planned 9/11   1.   Eli Yishai-no principles-only self interest 04:58  |  VICTIMSofARAB TERROR 22/04/08   2.   #1, agreed, completely 08:21  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 22/04/08   3.   So whats Mashaal flogging today? 10:47  |  Sammy, Newcastle UK 23/04/08

Read & React Report: Olmert tells Assad Israel will cede entire Golan for peace Responses: 49 Yuval Steinitz: Absurd U.S. intel report saps effort to save world from Iranian nukes Responses: 7 ANALYSIS: New espionage affair may be old story, but will greatly damage Israel Responses: 50 Moshe Arens: IDF must fight Islamic Movement for Bedouin hearts and minds Responses: 1 Rosner's Domain Notes on the new Israeli-espionage affair Obama's love affair with the rest of the world (WTR) Small gain in Pennsylvania could mean big win for Barack Obama Poll: What is Carter doing in the Middle East? The Passover test and The Passion of Passover More Headlines 11:19 Report: Olmert tells Assad Israel will cede entire Golan for peace 11:32 Suspected U.S. nuclear spy: I was helping Israel 09:51 The espionage connection / Anything is possible 11:07 Israel pumps diesel to Gaza, staving off threatened power plant shutdown 12:02 Russia asks J'lem whether downed Georgian drone was Israeli-made 09:48 Independence Day campaign: Israeli faces on Fifth Avenue 09:43 Israel keeping low profile on Egyptian-mediated truce in Gaza 09:41 Clinton scores vital win over Obama in Pennsylvania contest 09:52 ANALYSIS: New espionage affair may be old story, but will greatly damage Israel 09:31 Study finds no rewards for MKs' effort Previous Editions Select Day 22 apr 21 apr 20 apr 18 apr 17 apr 16 apr 15 apr 14 apr 13 apr 11 apr 10 apr 09 apr

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