Hamas: Too soon to say Shalit deal is imminent

as well as the Thousands families of the Palestinians.

Peter SM:"How many thousands of missiles at Israeli civillians before Israel said enough." Its the Palestinians who have said"enough"to the continued building by Israel on their land and are retaliating,or does your perverted sense of moral indignation causing you personal outrage by their resistance to that theft. Your continued attempt to highlight the weapons Hamas is using, from homemade rockets to Chinese copies of Russian-made Grads , mines and improvised devices and small arms is totally pathetic compared to the arsenal available to the IDF who is the fifth most powerful war machine in the world. Peter SM:"Thats as ugly as it gets.That`s how terrorists chose to "fight" then cry victim. You never said truer words Peter,the IDF have a habit of terrorizing its neighbours,then cries "victim" when people fight back.

Peter SM:"How many thousands of missiles at Israeli civillians before Israel said enough." Its the Palestinians who have said"enough"to the continued building by Israel on their land and are retaliating,or does your perverted sense of moral indignation causing you personal outrage by their resistance to that theft. Your continued attempt to highlight the weapons Hamas is using, from homemade rockets to Chinese copies of Russian-made Grads , mines and improvised devices and small arms is totally pathetic compared to the arsenal available to the IDF who is the fifth most powerful war machine in the world. Peter SM:"Thats as ugly as it gets.That`s how terrorists chose to "fight" then cry victim. You never said truer words Peter,the IDF have a habit of terrorizing its neighbours,then cries "victim" when people fight back.

of kidnapping. Particularly on the high seas. The Australian-owned yacht, Casselardit, was forcibly detoured to Israel and impounded by Israeli authorities August 1985. There were protests from the Australian Gov. The Australian Foreign Minister, and later Governor General of Australia, Bill Hayden, categorized Israel as "a law unto itself." There were literally dozens of further kidnappings on the high seas by Israel over many years. See UNGA resolution 42/159 of 1987 which related to piracy on the high seas *including that of States*. Only two countries in the UN voted against. Guess who they were? Israel even pioneered hijacking in the Mid East. On Dec. 12 1954, Israeli jet fighters intercepted a Syrian civilian aircraft flying from Damascus to Egypt and forced it to land in Israel. Moshe Sharett, wrote in his diary, "It is clear that Dayan's intention...is to get hostages in order to obtain the release of our prisoners in Damascus." Contrary to General Dayan's hopes, no exchange took place. Prime Minister Sharett added that the United States State Department complained that "our action was without precedent in the history of international practice." So before you start bleating on about kidnappings [or even hijackings] first you must *get a clue*

People should be carefull for what they wish for, the pals voted for hamas. Now that hamas started something they couldnt finish, you should blame your leaders for all the destruction and death they brought this upon you. And your lucky that some restaint was shown, if I had my you wouldnt be typing this post. After all the missles or whatever projectiles you launched at southern Israel gaza should have been turned into a huge flat parking lot

To possess 'ruth' one must have compassion for the misery of others, or sorrow for one's own faults. To be 'ruthless' is to be without mercy or pity. We have seen leaks from both sides in the last week which were ruthless. I feel Hamas is trying to pressure Netanyahu by this leak. Which in a way might bode well for the goals of the Shalit family, or it might be a cruel disappointment if nothing happens. It is a shame that both sides have played ruthlessly with the emotions of Noam Shalit and his wife. Hamas I expect to be ruthless. An expectation which it inevitably fulfills. I used to expect a degree of ruth from Israel. But I have never seen Netanyahu eschew ruthlessness. My hopes are that Gilad will be reunited with his family. I have come to have an immense respect for his father, Noam Shalit, who's persistence, courage and dignity has astounded me.

of kidnapping. Particularly on the high seas. The Australian-owned yacht, Casselardit, was forcibly detoured to Israel and impounded by Israeli authorities August 1985. There were protests from the Australian Gov. The Australian Foreign Minister, and later Governor General of Australia, Bill Hayden, categorized Israel as "a law unto itself." There were literally dozens of further kidnappings on the high seas by Israel over many years. See UNGA resolution 42/159 of 1987 which related to piracy on the high seas *including that of States*. Only two countries in the UN voted against. Guess who they were? Israel even pioneered hijacking in the Mid East. On Dec. 12 1954, Israeli jet fighters intercepted a Syrian civilian aircraft flying from Damascus to Egypt and forced it to land in Israel. Moshe Sharett, wrote in his diary, "It is clear that Dayan's intention...is to get hostages in order to obtain the release of our prisoners in Damascus." Contrary to General Dayan's hopes, no exchange took place. Prime Minister Sharett added that the United States State Department complained that "our action was without precedent in the history of international practice." So before you start bleating on about kidnappings [or even hijackings] first you must *get a clue*

There never was and never will be an "imminent release." The Israeli government promises not to exchange murderers for hostages. Jihadis promise to release hostages in exchange for murderers. Israelis release murderers. Jihadis murder hostages. The Israeli government promises not exchange murderers for hostage remains. Jihadis promise to release hostage remains in exchange for murderers. Israelis release more murderers. Jihadis release hostage remains. How many times does this script have be rerun before you people get a clue?

The reason why more Israelis aren't killed by Hamas rockets is that the Israeli government invests huge sums of money in shelters and early warning systems. Hamas chooses to spend its funding on offensive weaponry, when it could be investing in building a Palestinian state. I'd urge everyone to view the below video of a British colonel who says that Israel took more measures to protect civilians in Gaza that any other army in "the history of warfare." The IDF dropped millions of leaflets, and made hundreds of thousands of phone calls to warn Palestinian civilians. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX6vyT8RzMo

Barghouti is a Fattah man. Hamas has no reason to encourage Israel to release him of all people. He is the one man who might have a chance of uniting Palestinians and doing away with Hamas.

shalit was not captured on any battlefield. shalit was kidnapped from his own country with the stated intention of using him for ransom. such kidnapping and the demand for ransom is a violation of all laws of war.

hamas does have uniforms which they wear during parades, just like hezbollah. however, hamas takes off its uniforms when they are faced with a real fight. they prefer fighting from behind and in the midst of civilians.

He is not in Gaza. Period. Is he in Egypt. Great question. Is Ron Arad still alive. Great question. Do the Arabs and the Iranian regime have some Machiavellian Pact.? So it seems. Who is the matchmaker.? Maybe its the "Bunker Buster"! Or diplomacy. So far the latter has failed. I would say, take care, for ZAHAL may just bring in the sheep. Like Meshal and Haniyah et al. Underestimating the resolve of Israel has only caused consternation and confusion amongst the Arab World. Then again, they have shown only chaos amongst themselves. never have they come together, since they are divided and always will be, mainly due to religious strife blood feuds and past history between the Sunni and Shia. Good night from stormy Swiss Alps.

b"H I have a better idea. Let's all - klal Yisrael - keep Shabbat. Let the rabbonim maybe with some special help from Chabad stage a big Kiddush here on Bar Ilan. Let all Shomrei Shabbat people with the means to invite guests invite former non-Shomrei Shabbat Jews to their homes. Look people, there is no risk, no bloodshed involved. I, for my part, from 14:00 this afternoon, am fasting from Shabbat to Shabbat, until klal Yisrael - at least those of us here beAretz - will keep Shabbat.

Let me get my head around this. Israel pays a ransom to Hamas and Shalit is sent to Egypt.Then the Egyptian government denies Shalit his freedom and human rights until Israel pays a second ransom.Suppose that Shalit simply requests his immediate release,why should he not have it?Is he just a pawn?He's guilty of nothing. Just with whom does Egypt have a peace treaty?Israel or Hamas? The Egyptian government will be acting as kidnappers' agents and accessories to kidnapping.But really,that's the dirty hand that the Egyptian government's been playing all along.All those Hamas 'negotiators' in Cairo shouldn't have been treated as respected diplomats as they were,but arrested for kidnapping which is a serious crime in civilised countries. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

"Not really, Joseph E. There is a general presumption against democracies taking political prisoners, " There is a war going on over there, cummings. It's not "politics."

" Resistance fighters are not a state army or police force, they are armed civilians. Like in the Warsaw uprising, the defence of Leningrad, the guerilla waged against the French invaders in the Peninsular War, etc. forms because they are not serving soldiers." According to the Geneva Conventions it IS incumbent upon militias to wear insignia as soon as humanly possible. Why don't you shut your yap until you know what you are talking about?

"#2 captured not "kidnapped" Even Netanyahu referred recently to the `captured` soldier." KIDNAPPED, hence the ransom -- clearly against the Geneve Conventions.

"...WTF took Israel so long to take a deal that they set in motion themselves over Samir Kuntar?" You mean, every time there is an Israeli hostage captured, Israel is obligated to release terrorists with blood on their hands? Grow up.

Arabs are not fighting tiny israel but America itself.Supid American are doing the job for israel and israelis are just dictating their orders to poor Obama

I think it's probably Israel who dosen't want Barghouti released [ if he is the one prisnor] because he would unify the Palestinians and Israel wants them divided apparently because they want the land more than a peace deal

Freeing murderers for Shalit will only create more Shalits. Do not reward hostage taking by freeing murderers.

DO not free even one Arab criminal from prison for Shalit. This will invite more terrorism and kidnappings from terrorist. This will only to more innocents being murdered by Arab murderers. Do not commit another crime by freeing criminals.

Roo you said it perfectly!

Big deal. The IRA had 'brigades' as well, as do ETA, usually each a cell of about 20 armed civilians. (An army brigade consists generally of 5 or 6 battalions, numbering about 4,500 men). They are not brigades in a military sense. The weapons listed are sidearms and some squad and a few support company weapons. No tanks, planes, artillery, surface to air missiles, anti-tank weapons, UAVs, arnoured vehicles - they have the standard rag-tag kit that all lightly-armed insurgents have. If you think that makes them an army, you have clearly never served in uniform. The answer to fighting insurgents is not through the random killing of civilians. I assume you have heard of Guernica? Well just like that, indiscriminate and reprisal killing of civilians is a war crime. Go look up Geneva Convention 4, it is crystal clear and permits no freedom of interpretation. Israel clearly does not have a clue how to fight an asymmetric war, it's not the same as pushing unarmed Pal civilians around.

For reporting purposes, children were defined as anyone less than 21. Presumably nobody under that age has any idea how to pull a trigger or grenade pin. Also, for reporting purposes, all females were considered innocent civilians. Same problem. No wonder there is a bit of smoke. As far as prisoner exchange, there are certain people that should not be held prisoner. It might be difficult to enact written policy, but accidents can and do happen.

In all seriousness I have no problem condemning such acts as barbarism. But if I had to end my days subject to a lynching in Ramallah, or waiting for an Israeli commando force. so that I might be blown up inside my home along with my children, in Qibya. Or maybe being subject to a barrage of 4 inch flechettes, or perhaps a cloud of white phosphorous which would burn me from the inside out, I would really be hard pushed to make a decision. How about you?

Peter SM thinks that the argument that the Palestinians refuse to wear a uniform makes alright the killing of children by the IDF. The fact that this argument is not accepted as a defence with the precedent set at the Nuremburg Trials is lost on him.

It cant be excuse, but, the arabs cant be victimized when they start a fight agaisnt a stronger power. The Pals can claim they are fighting against an occupier force, but what about the lebanese? Israel withdrew south Lebanon in 2000, what excuse they had to start another conflict? Fighting the occupation???

In all seriousness I have no problem condemning such acts as barbarism. But if I had to end my days subject to a lynching in Ramallah, or waiting for an Israeli commando force. so that I might be blown up inside my home along with my children, in Qibya. Or maybe being subject to a barrage of 4 inch flechettes, or perhaps a cloud of white phosphorous which would burn me from the inside out, I would really be hard pushed to make a decision. How about you?

Not quite as unarmed as their apoloigists like to make out. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/tunnels-ndash-the-secret-weapon-for-hamas-1228140.html "Hamas's weaponry includes Qassam missiles, mainly manufactured within Gaza, and Chinese copies of Russian-made Grads smuggled from across the border along with mortars, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, heavy calibre machine guns, mines and improvised devices. Hamas also inherited a stockpile of US-made small arms and ammunition abandoned by the rival Fatah movement when its fighters were driven out of Gaza in 2007. Hamas has also upgraded its military structure with five brigades under separate commanders who report to Izz al-Din al-Qassam chiefs but have also been trained to carry on as individual units when necessary"__ "

and have uniforms which they chose not to wear. What goes around? How many captured Arabs have been lynched and their bodies dragged through the streets? Are there special rules for Moslems in your book?

when fighting by choice amongst civillians without them.Hamas men have uniforms when they chose to wear them. The uniforms of the elected government of Palestine,Hamas.

when fighting by choice amongst civillians without them.Hamas men have uniforms when they chose to wear them. The uniforms of the elected government of Palestine,Hamas.

when fighting by choice amongst civillians without them.Hamas men have uniforms when they chose to wear them. The uniforms of the elected government of Palestine,Hamas.

"Arabs holding Israeli citizenship are among the 160 newly agreed prisoners slated for release" Strip it off and send them to their "brothers"!

The nanme of the prisoner is IBRAHIM HAMED the leader of hamas military wings on the west bank.. btw..israel agreed to release Marwan al barghothi

Is that what hamas is trying to prove?

Its doubtful Hamas woudl want to release Barghouti considering he is a major figure for their opposition party.

Shalit issue are construed so the manipulated public opinion blame Israel for Israel willingness to consider in part the hamas list of extortions .' Not really, Joseph E. There is a general presumption against democracies taking political prisoners, with which the Israeli jails are overflowing. It is generally seen as against the rule of law and the kind of thing that 3rd world dictatorships practice. Public opinion doesn't need any help from the media to know that a great crime is being committed by the state of Israel.

It is Marwan Barghouti the remaing prisoner as others are claiming. The Israeli's wanted Barghouti to renounce violence of all sorts as a precondition to his release. Hence the recent 'press conference' with Barghouti in jail. Barghouti is just like Arafat. He says one thing in english and something else in Arabic. Now we can also understand how everything is falling into place. Abbas resigns yet at the sme time Fatah and Hamas seem to have finally reached an agreement. It is because Hamas respects Barghouti because he has blood on his hands wheras Fatah respect Barghouti because he officaily suppports the negotiating process.

State armies wear uniforms, Peter. As do state police, even in Gaza. Resistance fighters are not a state army or police force, they are armed civilians. Like in the Warsaw uprising, the defence of Leningrad, the guerilla waged against the French invaders in the Peninsular War, etc. It is not incumbent upon them to wear uniforms because they are not serving soldiers. A popular political resistance is not a regiment. As to how they fight, it is called asymmetric warfare, where those outnumbered and out-gunned by a conventional army, with no tanks, aircraft, ATGW or indeed any useful weaponry apart from side arms, develop alternative tactics with which to engage the occupier. You want these half-trained civilian fighters to be wearing a smart new uniform they are not entitled to while they engage Merkava tanks with AK47s and home-made molotovs? Maybe they could form human waves to rush at the tanks and throw rocks? Yeah, that would suit the IDF fine I'm sure.

The correct term for those soldiers is chickens coming home to roost. History teaches that if one makes a practice of beating up and abusing a conquered population and hiding behind your gun, it is prudent not to let them get their hands on you. Whatever goes around comes around.

"When are you going to learn to fight like men?" Would you characterize the Jews who fought the British before 1948 as men? After all, they fought without uniforms. Or, as in so many other cases, is this a matter of the rules you apply to everyone else not applying to Jews?

The IDF has the most advanced military equipment in the world. When they kill hundreds of civilians at a time, it is no accident. Not only does this justify bringing war crimes charges against the IDF at every level, it also removes any moral juttification for accusing the Palestinians of targetting civilians. Israel has killed far more civilians than Hamas and Hizbollah combined. How can Israel be excused while they vilify the Arabs for lesser crimes?

should immediately be stripped from the citizenship and shipped to Gaza.

The Almagor terror victims association, relating to news of a pending deal for kidnapped soldier GIlad Shalit, says that terrorists released by Israel in the past have carried out some 30 terror attacks resulting in the deaths of over 180 Israelis.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Palestinian which the Israelis are refusing to release is... Marwan Barghouti. But the fact that Uzi Arad is going to Cairo, is a sign the negotiations are in the final stages. Uzi Arad is the most trusted Netanyahu advisor... and the Buddha of all-dextral strategy. His right-wing mentality is indisputable... and even Bibi's dad worships the ground Uzi walks on. Let's hope Mr. Arad doesn't trample on the Pyramids and Sphinx statues... Egypt is famous for.

bodies dragged through the streets of Ramallah? Israelis kidnapped by Arabs using UN marked vehicles while UN looked on then lied?

That would be interesting.

for Israel. Particularly as he is seen as the Palestinian's Nelson Mandela. However the Palestinians have waited 3 years to get to this point. I am sure they can wait another three years. Netanyahu meanwhile needs a success to keep his coalition together and to blindside the Israel people from the fact his policies are alientaing Planet Earth in a way never before seen.

are construed so the manipulated public opinion blame Israel for Israel willingness to consider in part the hamas list of extortions . The blame game is meant to pressure Israel to relieve all the hamas list of extortions .

M. B. Gold: Please change the names, then you are right. Who will be responsible for the thousands victims killed and injured ant/or kidnapped by the Israelis murderers as the consequence of the released Isaeli prisoner in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, The Olmert/ Barak family? Other Israeli politicians? What will they have to tell to the families of the victims?... Real leaders have plenty of power in the refusal to bargain. A leader should be strong and courageous!

Even Netanyahu referred recently to the 'captured' soldier.

Israel has emprisoned or had put soem sort of freedom restrictions on more than 99.99% of the Palestinians living in palestine. It can emprison anyone in the WB and the 1948 Arab zones. No one in the world cares about that wholesale policy of intimidation and human degradation. Officially, Israel is always the victim and it is an entity above international laws. If wisdom should have any meaning. the world should pressure Israel to liberate all Arab prisoners in israel and should prohibit it from taking more. That may be a wishful thinking?

Abbas-fatah received Gaza and without a fight surrendered Gaza to Hamas Yet Fatah Abbas still get no peace . Will Fatah Abbas get peace once Ramalla , Jenin , etc... are surrendered without a fight to Hamas .

How many thousands of missiles at Israeli civillians before Israel said enough? How many warnings do normal people need? When are you going to learn to fight like men "baby"? instead of amongst babies,without uniforms,knowing full well the consequences of that type of "fighting". Thats as ugly as it gets.That's how terrorists chose to "fight" then cry victim.

You keep referring to Palestinian resistance fighters as Arab murderers. Well, in one fell swoop, you murdered more than 1400 people in Gaza, including more than 330 children. Look yourselves in the mirror baby. Your face may be uglier, much uglier, than you think it is.

Who will be responsible for the victims killed and injured ant/or kidnapped by the Arab murderers as the consequence of the released Arab prisoners in exchange for Shalit, The Shalit family? The Israeli politicians? What will they have to tell to the families of the victims?... Real leaders have plenty of power in the refusal to bargain. A leader should be strong and courageous! More over the problem of kidnapped soldiers at : http://xrl.us/em3de

...WTF took Israel so long to take a deal that they set in motion themselves over Samir Kuntar?