Al-Zahar. It's in Israel's hands
Photo: AFP
Shalit: 900 days in captivity
Photo: Noam Rotem
Al-Zahar: Brave gov't would return Shalit
One of Hamas leaders in Gaza Strip tells Israel Radio kidnapped IDF soldier could be released in one day, admits he did not think affair would last 900 days. Al-Zahar also rejects visit by Red Cross, but promises Islam treats hostages well
Kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit
was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip exactly 900 days ago, and Hamas
blames Israel
for the slow negotiations for his release.
According to al-Zahar, Shalit could be released in one day "if a courageous government is formed in Israel and releases Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life."
"This affair could be finalized in one day," Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar told Israel Radio on Thursday morning.
Commentary
Ron Ben-Yishai
Ron Ben Yishai examines Israeli policy vis-à-vis Hamas’ Gaza Strip regime
He called on the Jewish state to accept the kidnappers' demands and free some 1,000 prisoners.
Speaking of how the affair began, the Hamas leader said his organization did not think it would last this long.
As for the Israeli demand to allow the Red Cross to visit Shalit, al-Zahar made it clear that this would not happen "for security reasons" – in other words, for fear that the Israeli army would take advantage of the visit to locate the place where the captive is being held.
He promised, however, that "Islam treats hostages well".
Al-Zahar addressed reports that Gaza's residents recently received phone calls offering them a reward for information on Shalit. He called on Israel "to stop these ridiculous attempts, and instead delve deeply into the matter and accept the abductors' demands in order to end the affair."
Diplomatic and political sources have harshly criticized the government's moves in the recent weeks, following its approval of a prisoner release as a goodwill gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in honor of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, regardless of the Shalit affair.
The criticism increased on Wednesday following Defense Minister Ehud Barak's order to transfer NIS 100 million to banks in the West Bank and Gaza, claiming that without the money the Palestinian banking system would collapse.
The campaign for Shalit's release called the move "a public scandal", explaining that "it's unthinkable that funds are transferred without demanding in return information or progress in the negotiations for the captive soldier's release."
