Israel Matzav

Gilad Shalit will never be released

We all know he is alive and we're fairly sure he's 'safe,' but I would not place any bets on Gilad Shalit's release.

Shalit, for those of you who have forgotten, is the IDF soldier who was kidnapped on June 25, 2006 near the Kerem Shalom crossing point into the Gaza Strip. Despite on and off negotiations in which the main issue was the number and identity of the 'Palestinian' prisoners terrorists to be released in exchange for him, he still languishes in a location that is likely known to Israeli intelligence and is likely somewhere in Gaza.

Tonight, Hamas warned that Shalit would 'never' be released if Israel targets its leadership.

“If any of Hamas’ leaders are harmed, Israel can forget about Gilad Shalit," said Saturday a spokesman for the Islamist group’s armed wing, the Izz el-Din al-Qassam Brigades.

Speaking to reporters just a few hours after another IDF aerial attack on a Hamas position in Gaza left five Palestinians dead, Abu Obaida said, "Suicide bombings in Israel are just a matter of time and proper conditions…we can fire rockets even beyond Ashkelon, and we will resume the suicide bombings and kidnappings."

(For those of you who thought Shalit was kidnapped by the 'Popular Resistance Committees,' I keep telling you that the terrorists are all the same - they just keep changing uniforms). Unfortunately, I don't believe Shalit will ever be released. I believe he is being held hostage to check any Israeli response to the Kassam fire. I doubt Hamas would give him up for any number of terrorists now.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:34 AM