Israel Matzav

Hamas leader met with Israelis?

The pan-Arabic daily al-Sharq al-Awswat reported on Saturday that senior Hamas terrorist Omar Abed al-Razek met with Israeli officials in Netanya on Tuesday.

According to Palestinian sources quoted in the report, the former Treasury Minister in the Hamas government of Ismail Haniyeh, Omar Abed al-Razak was taken from Nablus, in the West Bank, to the Israeli city of Netanya on Tuesday.

The Palestinian sources say the meeting was held in order to warn Hamas against kidnapping Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

The Israel Defense Forces recently said that intelligence has shown Hamas leaders in Damascus are pressuring followers in the West Bank to abduct Israeli settlers and citizens.

But that may not have been the reason for the meeting.

The Palestinian sources did not give reasons for the meeting, but the officials apparently discussed the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, who has been kept captive by Hamas for over four years, or the recent rocket attacks in Eilat, Ashkelon and and the Negev.

And al-Razek denies the meeting took place altogether.

Abed Al-Razak reportedly denied the reports and said, "This information is totally false and lacks basis. We are prohibited from entering 1948 territory."

Hmmm.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:52 PM