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Families of Palestinian prisoners protest in Gaza City on June 25, the anniversary of Gilad Shalit's capture, calling for the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Photo by Ahmad Khateib/ Flash90
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| By Israel Insider staff June 26, 2007 |
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The release of a recorded message from kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit Monday proves that Hamas is in a state of distress, the Center for Political Research in the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
The Foreign Ministry saw Hamas' release of the recording as an unreciprocated transfer of information on the captured soldier, as Israel offered nothing in return, reported the Jerusalem Post.
The recording, which was posted Monday on Hamas' website, was deemed authentic by a top defense official Tuesday, who asserted on Israel Radio that the recording's release was "proof of Hamas's weakness."
He also viewed positively that the recording showed Hamas had accepted responsibility for Shalit's health.
According to the official, however, those who kidnapped Shalit - the Popular Resistance Committees - have left Hamas, and that neither Khaled Mashaal nor Ismail Haniyeh know where the soldier is being held. The official continued, saying that if Israel and Hamas reached a prisoner-exchange, Hamas could pressure those holding Shalit into releasing him.
Ynetnews columnist Ron Ben-Yishai also mentioned Hamas' eagerness for a prisoner exchange.
"This gesture [of posting the recording] was aimed at securing two objectives. First, regain some of Hamas' international and Arab legitimacy, which it lost when it took over Gaza. The gesture was also designed for the ears of Egyptian President Mubarak, who severed his ties with Hamas in the wake of the organization's takeover of Egypt's mission in Gaza," said Ben-Yishai.
Ben-Yishai explained that Hamas needs Egypt to act as a mediator if any sort of exchange deal with Israel is to be realized.
Haaretz writer Avi Isaacharoff agreed, saying that Hamas' "main objective in broadcasting the tape was to break that impasse" in negotiations for Shalit's release. Just an hour before the recording was released Monday, Hamas leader Ayman Taha told Haaretz that negotiations were at an impasse.
"Hamas is hoping that the cassette could help pressure Israel into renewing negotiations by imploring Egypt to resume its role as mediator, or to find other third parties. Hamas is seeking to undermine Israel's resistance to releasing the 450 prisoners which Hamas is demanding in exchange for Shalit, by using Shalit's voice to stir up public opinion," wrote Isaacharoff.
Isaacharoff added that Hamas is hoping to thwart Israel releasing Fatah prisoners, because if Israel is pressured into releasing 450 Hamas prisoners for Shalit, it is less likely to release even more prisoners for Fatah. Hamas wants to relate to Jerusalem that they are "Israel's real partner for security issues," not Fatah's Abbas, said Isaacharoff.
Speaking on the prisoner exchange, top Hamas spokesman Ribhi Rantisi assured Army Radio that Israel and the group don't disagree on the amount (450) of prisoners Israel will release, only the identity of a small number of them.
"Whether it is a more substantial or less substantial inmate, with blood on his hands or without - if we keep up these things then there will be no end to it," said Rantisi, warning that disagreements must be avoided in order to find a solution.
"Obviously Hamas demands the release of all of those who were leaders of Hamas and Fatah, as well as Ahmed Saadat. I reiterate, we are not in argument over many people." |
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