This is the first time that Hamas has actually listed the names of jihadists in Israeli prisons that Hamas wants released in exchange for Gilad Shilat, the Israeli soldier who has been in Hamas custody for close to two years.
And the list is basically a who's who of the most despicable human beings on the planet. Probably the most visible prisoner that Hamas wants released is West Bank Fatah-Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, sentenced to five life sentences for murder. Another name mentioned by Hamas is Ahmad Sadat who plotted to assassinate an Israeli minister.
Hamas has basically asked for the release of the most hard core prisoners that Israel holds - I'm sure a move to test the waters as well as humiliate Israel. I can't imagine that Israel would consider this but it may be worth Israel's time to perhaps offer up one of these dredges and see what the reaction is.
The other interesting thing about this publicly announced list by Hamas is that it encompasses prisoners from all factions in palestine - you might say that Hamas is trying to show its interest in all palestinians. Yeah right.
I still say that Israel simply starts eliminating Hamas leaders, one by one, with the offer that the eliminations will cease upon Shalit's return to Israel.
Here's the full story from DEBKA.
And the list is basically a who's who of the most despicable human beings on the planet. Probably the most visible prisoner that Hamas wants released is West Bank Fatah-Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, sentenced to five life sentences for murder. Another name mentioned by Hamas is Ahmad Sadat who plotted to assassinate an Israeli minister.
Hamas has basically asked for the release of the most hard core prisoners that Israel holds - I'm sure a move to test the waters as well as humiliate Israel. I can't imagine that Israel would consider this but it may be worth Israel's time to perhaps offer up one of these dredges and see what the reaction is.
The other interesting thing about this publicly announced list by Hamas is that it encompasses prisoners from all factions in palestine - you might say that Hamas is trying to show its interest in all palestinians. Yeah right.
I still say that Israel simply starts eliminating Hamas leaders, one by one, with the offer that the eliminations will cease upon Shalit's return to Israel.
Here's the full story from DEBKA.
DEBKAfile Exclusive: Marwan Barghouti tops Hamas’ high-profile terrorist list for kidnapped Israeli soldier
The Palestinian Hamas is turning the screws on terms for the release of the kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilead Shalit in view of the Olmert government’s soft response to its 39- missile barrage, including the attack which gravely injured two Sderot brothers Saturday. Its spokesmen threatened Mon. Feb. 11 that attacks on Hamas political leaders would be met with “unprecedented retaliation.”
DEBKAfile’s military sources reveal that, after holding the Israeli soldier for 20 months, Hamas has come up with a mixed bag of 12 lifers from Islamist and secular Palestinian terrorist groups, in addition to the hundreds of lesser lights in Israeli jails.
West Bank Fatah-Tanzim leader Marwan Barghouti, sentenced to five life sentences for murder, is followed by the Popular Front secretary Ahmad Sadat, who plotted the assassination of Israeli minister Rehavam Zeevi in 2001.
Other hard cases are Muhammad Shehadeh, the veteran Hamas prisoner, who has served 20 years; Fatah’s Salam Kayali, who has done 27 years; Ahmed Abu Hatzeira of Jihad Islami, two Fatah killers, Fouad Ghanem, in for 28 years, and Wahai Sanour of Hamas, who has served 20.
Hamas has never before publicly named the terrorists demanded as ransom for the Israeli soldier. By seeking to release “heroes” of the various extremist factions, Hamas is displaying its patriotic concern for the Palestinian terrorist movement as a whole.
Sunday night, Feb. 10, Hamas gunmen started shooting at an Israeli tank unit in the Nahal Oz sector facing Gaza. Israeli troops killed one of the gunmen in the return fire.
No comments:
Post a Comment