Israel Matzav

Hamas panicking over Shalit

Shavua tov - a good week to everyone.

Like the two-bit kidnappers that they are, Hamas is panicking that maybe Israel is not going to pay its ransom demands for kidnapped IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit. As I'm sure you all recall, Shalit has been held by Hamas since June 2006. Now, Hamas is getting impatient and they're starting to threaten Shalit's family.

Palestinian Parliament Member Mushir al Masri on Saturday blamed Israel and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert for failing to reach a compromise that would free abducted Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit.

Al Masri, a parliament member on behalf of Hamas, told a Palestinian news agency "I want to turn to the Shalit family and say: 'Olmert and his associates are gambling with your son's life.'"

Al Masri further said that another Israeli insistence would make Hamas seal off the possibility for Shalit's release. "Shalit will never see the light of day, or his parents, if the Palestinian prisoners will not see theirs," he declared.

Al Masri claimed Hamas was beginning to question Egypt's ability to help solve the burning issues at stake, including Shalit, the Israeli-Palestinian situation, as well the sour relations between Hamas and Fatah within the Palestinian Authority.

Shalit is worth a lot more to Hamas alive than dead, and they know it. No terrorists should be released to murder more Jews in a trade for Shalit.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 8:54 PM