Zahar: Hamas willing to renew talks over release of Shalit
Top Hamas official: Prisoner exchange is possible; 3000 cyclists rallied for release of abducted soldiers.
By Jack KhouryTop Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar said Saturday that Hamas is willing to renew negotiations over the release of abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for an Israeli release of Palestinian prisoners.
"If Israel wants to begin at the point where we stopped, there is a possibility to complete the exchange deal", Zahar said.
Shalit was captured in a cross-border raid by Hamas and two smaller militant groups in June last year. So far, Egyptian mediation attempts to exchange Shalit for Palestinian prisoners have failed.
IDF reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev were subsequently abducted by Hezbollah on July 12 near the border with Lebanon, sparking the Second Lebanon War.
Noam Shalit, Gilad Shalit's father, said Saturday that he hopes he won't go through another "nightmarish" year, and called on the government "to pick up the pace in bringing back the children."
Shalit spoke at a ceremony in Rosh Hanikra following a cycle rally in the western Galilee, organized to show support for the abducted Israel Defense Forces soldiers and their families.
Karnit Goldwasser, wife of Ehud Goldwasser, called on newly elected president, Shimon Peres and Defense Minister Ehud Barak to act for the quick release of the abducted troops, "and not to let apathy kill them."
Some 3,000 cyclists took part in the rally Saturday morning, under the banner of "stop apathy for the sake of the kidnapped soldiers."
The cyclists began at the Regba shopping center situated between the coastal towns of Acre and Nahariya, and finished at Rosh Hanikra.
The rally marks almost a year since Shalit was captured by Palestinian militants.
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Mahmoud Zahar. (AP) |
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You should go to hell, that's where you belong.
but worse
clearly here that which you have refused for months: Yes, the Jewish state of Israel has the right to exist. In fact, you have claimed it did not, and we must therefore uderstand your demonizing posts in that context.
Israel holds the best card. Gaza should release Shalit if it expects to receive eletricity, water and other services. It is incredible that we continue to quench the thirst and light up the homes of those murderers.
Now Hamas is using Shalit to reinstate itself... If ever there was a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea, we are now confronting it.
There are two reasons that Israel has not made an agreement to return Shalit. The first reason is that Israel does not want to send the signal that capturing IDF men will be rewarded. The second reason is that they do not want to appear to be forced to deal with Hamas, whom they normally shun. Here is a newsflash for the Israeli leadership. Capturing IDF men DOES render a reward, always. Until a deal is made, it pictures Israel and the IDF to be impotent as far as gaining the release. Hamas will attempt these captures whether Israel bargains with them or not. As far as dealing with Hamas, Israel HAS dealt with Hamas in the past under similar circumstances. To refuse to do so only draws the event into a multi year demonstration of impotence and futility. It would be wise to make these deals quickly and take greater care in future about having IDF men captured.
Paulo, Israel isn't an "illegal occupying force". There are UN agreements that have them there. HAMAS *is* an illegal occupying force since they bloodily took over Gaza. The next time you want to make a comparison, open your little History Of The World Coloring Book. Here's an easy way to remember. If it sounds like chickpea paste, it's a terrorist organization. Israel: nope Hummus: yup. M
Hamas has responded to the families appeal today. One thing you can trust Hamas to be is attentive and quick to make the right political appeal. Of course, you must also understand that their price for Shalit would be high, and that Olmert will never admit his failure to save Shalit. Gilad, hang tough fella. Your enemies are on all sides, but your father loves you. There is still hope. As long as their is life, there is hope.
You do realise the very same thing happens in Israel. Except that Israel is an illegal occupying force that kills far more unarmed civilians than Hezbollah and Hamas combined.
In a de Spiegel interview with Mahmoud Zahar, one of the founders of Hamas, he says: "The American aid money has been translated into weapons. Thank you, America!" http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,490160,00.html