Meshal: Israel won't admit it can't free Shalit without a price
Hamas' exiled leader quoted in Lebanese daily blaming Israel for delay in negotiations on abducted soldier.
By Haaretz Service and ReutersHamas' exiled political leader has blamed Israel for the delay in negotiations on the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, in an interview published Thursday in Lebanon's al-Akhbar daily newspaper
"There is no other way except negotiations, which have not started yet because Israel refuses to admit that its attempts to free the soldier without a price have failed," said exiled leader Khaled Meshal.
Israel has pursued a military offensive in the Gaza Strip to free Shalit, who was seized by Hamas militants on June 25 in a cross-border. At least 209 Palestinians, around half of them civilians, have been killed during IDF attacks since June 28.
Meshal told al-Akhbar that there has been no advance in negotiations, despite the interest of international delegates.
"We receive many international delegations that come to discuss the issue but none of them has a full and serious mandate," the Damascus-based leader added.
Al-Akhbar did not say when the interview was conducted.
Israeli officials denied this week that an agreement had been reached between Israel and the Palestinians to hand over Shalit to Egypt in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, as Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas was quoted as saying in an interview published on Tuesday.
Vice Premier Shimon Peres said on Tuesday Prime Minister Ehud Olmert would hold his first peace summit with Abbas if Shalit was freed.
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Hamas' exiled political leader Khaled Meshal. (Reuters) |
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Hamas is unwilling to admit that it can't get '67 borders, Jerusalem as a capital and right of return as well as any other unrealized fantasies in exchange for a single soldier. Shalit is all they have - and their people need to see them bring in more than just a thousand prisoners - but Hamas as a government will never bring them what they seek. Same with Hizbullah for Lebanon. DON'T YOU KNOW? Olmert already offered Hamas and Hizbullah what they originally asked for in exchange for our soldiers - then their demands went up. We will give them 1,000 terrorists for Shalit - even if it does put a price on our heads - but we won't give them the whole world too.
sh I agree with you, the most important thing is to bring all 3 soldiers back. Olmert should start negotiating right away with hezbollah and hamas. They should do like they have done in the past exchange prisoners. Peace to all.
the huge majority of Israelis are against negotiations in order to free the hostages! Do you just see what you want to see ? Negotiations = more kidnappings No negotiations = No more kidnappings. This has to be a fairly simple equation ?! The big mistake was to previously hold negotiations and to then release thousands of prisoners that had been sentenced by the courts. The mistake has been realized and perhaps the present hostages will pay for the mistake with their lives. None of us want to see that but the alternative is far far worse. Every Israeli will have a price on his head if we even negotiate a 1-1 release. Mike
The Palestinians will make Israel pay a heavy price for Shalit. Large numbers of Palestinian prisoners will have to be released. There will be no easy outcome for Israel. No propaganda victory is forthcoming.
Olmert wants what he wants without having to pay for it. He's willing to make the magnanimous gift of peace negotiations instead. You can't have my piggy bank, but you can have my teddy instead. It should be clear to Olmert that the whole country is waiting to see him deliver the three soldiers back to their families. He has delivered on none of his other promises, but this one is sacred. Once it becomes clear that he is not willing to do what must be done to achieve this most vital and urgent of all goals, the country will, without any doubt, throw him out. Until it manages to do this it will be ungovernable. There is no more time.