 Hamas political leader has said that his group will not recognise Israel despite new pressures and will give priority to building resistance to the Jewish state. Addressing a rally in the Syrian capital on Friday to mark the end of the Israeli attack on Gaza a year ago that killed 1,400 Palestinians, Meshaal said Hamas does not want another war with Israel, but it will stick to armed struggle as a means to liberate occupied land. "Hamas will keep rejecting the occupation and refuse to recognise the legitimacy of the Zionist entity. Priority will remain building and developing the resistance," said Meshaal, who lives in Syria along with other Hamas leaders in exile. "Pressure, siege, temptations and opening doors or communication channels will not fool Hamas, which will not compromise on the rights. Hamas will be only tempted by restoring the land," Meshaal said. Meshaal was referring to increased contacts between Hamas and Western delegations since the Gaza war, including a meeting with a US group that included Jack Matlock, a former American ambassador in Moscow. "Triumphant Gaza today is still wounded. Its houses are still destroyed. It's still under siege and its borders are still closed. Add to this the new steel wall," Meshaal said, referring to a structure being built by Egypt along its border with Gaza to stop the smuggling of arms and goods into the strip. "Today we do not seek war but if war is imposed on us we will fight fiercely," Meshaal said. Meshaal said reconciliation with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, was needed to strengthen the Palestinian cause but he made no new proposals on how to do so after Egyptian efforts to bring about agreement between the two sides foundered. Meshaal also said that captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit will not be freed unless Israel releases hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. "Shalit will not to home before the liberation of our prisoners," he told the rally, blaming Israel for the failure to reach a deal on freeing the soldier, who was captured in June 2006. Al Jazeera 
 By KHALED ABU TOAMEH Hamas has accepted Israel's right to exist and would be prepared to nullify its charter, which calls for the destruction of Israel, Aziz Dwaik, Hamas's most senior representative in the West Bank, said on Wednesday. Dwaik's remarks are seen in the context of Hamas's attempts to win recognition from the international community. Dwaik is the elected speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council. He was released a few months ago after spending nearly three years in an Israeli prison. Dwaik was among dozens of Hamas officials and members who were rounded up by Israel following the abduction of IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit near the Gaza Strip in June 2006. His latest remarks were made during a meeting he held in Hebron with British millionaire David Martin Abrahams, who maintains close ties with senior Israeli and British government officials. Abrahams is scheduled to brief British Foreign Secretary David Milliband this weekend on the outcome of his meeting with Dwaik and other top Hamas officials in the West Bank. Abrahams, a major donor to Britain's Labor Party, told The Jerusalem Post he would urge Milliband to "consider the implications of Hamas's positive overtures." During the meeting in Hebron, Dwaik stressed that other Hamas leaders, including Damascus-based leader Khaled Mashaal and Gaza Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, have voiced support for the idea of establishing an independent Palestinian state within the pre-1967 boundaries. "The [Hamas] charter was drafted more than 20 years ago," Dwaik noted, adding that his movement would even be prepared to "nullify" the document. "No one wants to throw anyone into the sea," he said. Dwaik also expressed Hamas's desire to engage in dialogue with the international community, first and foremost the European Union. He confirmed that Hamas was receiving financial aid from Iran, but said that this was the direct result of the boycott and sanctions against the movement. Abrahams said that he would be happy to facilitate a dialogue between Hamas on the one hand, and Israel and the international community on the other. He said he was "very excited" to hear from the most prominent leader ofHamas in the West Bank that the movement would be prepared to nullify its charter and accept Israel. "The fact that there is a possibility for recognition of Israel is a symbolic gesture," Abrahams added. "We can all look for good in people and we can all look for bad in people. I always look for the good." Asked whether he might be condemned as naïve for believing Hamas, Abrahams said, "People might say that I'm naïve, so let them. But I'm prepared to give them [Hamas] a chance because I've got faith and confidence in Dwaik and Haniyeh. We can't allow 1.5 million to be festering in the Gaza Strip while the majority of them are good and well-educated." Abrahams said that his decision to engage Hamas was aimed at "preventing bloodshed on both sides." He said he was encouraged by the massive support he found among the Jewish community in Britain for the idea of talking toHamas. "I recently published an article in the Jewish Chronicle to test the temperature of the water within the Jewish community about Hamas," he said. "I found a lot of support among Jews for dealing with Hamas and I was pleasantly surprised." Denying that he had delivered any message from the British government or the EU leadership to Hamas, Abrahams said he was convinced more than ever that the movement posed no threat to the US. "Hamas is different from al-Qaida," he said. "Hamas is no threat to Western interests." Some consider Dwaik, as speaker of the PLC, to be the acting president of the Palestinian Authority, since Mahmoud Abbas's term officially expired on January 9. Dwaik himself has said that he is content to let Abbas continue in office until the election that is now scheduled for June 28, 2010
JPost
 Another deadline for "zero hour" has been passed as rumors, leaks and more talks drown out the silence of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, whose condition still remains unknown. The saga may linger on for several more days, if not more. Israel has refused to divulge details of the proposed trade of approximately 1,000 terrorists for the soldier, who was kidnapped three and a half years ago.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the other six ministers of the mini-Cabinet, whom he trusts to honor a gag order on dicussions, have delivered their unpublished decision to German negotiator Ernst Uhrlau, who has postponed for another day a meeting with Hamas officials. Most estimates are that the sticking point in the proposal deal is the prospective destination of “heavy-duty” terrorists with “blood on their hands.” The general assumption is that the Prime Minister and at least half of the other members of the mini-Cabinet insist that they be deported outside of Judea and Samaria, a condition Hamas does not accept. As with previous negotiations, Hamas has floated various and contradictory rumors while top Israeli officials have measured their words. “Our top priority is to bring Gilad home," said Defense Minister Ehud Barak. "Not at any price, but in every possible and appropriate way." He is considered to be in favor of freeing terrorists who were convicted for involvement in murderous attacks, including the Park Hotel Passover bombing in 2002 that left 30 Jews dead and scores more wounded. Prime Minister Netanyahu declared there is a “need to retrieve captives and the need to protect Israeli citizens from future harm." The proposed deal has left Israeli in a virtual no-win position of risking Shalit’s life by rejecting a deal but also risking the lives of Israelis if the terrorists who might be freed follow previous patterns of returning to attack Israelis. Nearly 180 Jews have been murdered in recent years by terrorists who were freed after promising not to return to acts of violence. Defense Minister Barak admitted that Israel has slipped into a pattern of being forced into releasing terrorists either for political purposes or for kidnapped Israelis, some of whom have been returned home in coffins. “The Israeli government must change its policies on such deals,” he said, while adding that the current government inherited a situation from the previous government. Shalit was kidnapped while Ehud Olmert was Prime Minister. Immediately after the abduction, Olmert announced he would not conduct negotiations with terrorists and later vowed not to resume diplomatic talks with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas until Shalit was returned. As time went on, he relinquished both positions, leading to off-and-on mediated talks for more than two years.
INN
 By KHALED ABU TOAMEH Egypt's decision to build an underground metal wall along its border with the Gaza Strip has triggered a crisis between Cairo and Hamas. Hamas leaders believe that the wall is being constructed as part of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's desire to punish the Islamist movement for its refusal to sign an Egyptian-engineered "reconciliation accord" with Fatah several weeks ago. Moreover, Hamas believes that Mubarak is also seeking "revenge" because the movement has preferred German mediation to Egyptian involvement in the negotiations with Israel over the release of IDF soldier Gilad Schalit. In both cases, Mubarak felt humiliated by Hamas's actions. In assuming the role of mediator between Hamas and Fatah, Mubarak was hoping to succeed where other Arabs, specifically the Saudis, Yeminis and Qataris, had failed. Just when the two sides appeared to be on the verge of signing a "reconciliation agreement" under the auspices of the Egyptians last October, Hamas bolted. Hamas justified its decision to stay away from the signing ceremony by citing Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's failure to support a resolution at the United Nations in favor of the Goldstone Report into Operation Cast Lead. Hamas's decision not to sign the accord with Fatah was seen by Palestinians and Egyptians as a severe blow to Mubarak's personal prestige and Egypt's standing in the Arab world. Mubarak was hoping that the agreement would help Egypt restore its long-lost status as one of the most influential Arab countries. On the personal level, he was hoping that success in resolving the Hamas-Fatah crisis would reaffirm his standing as a powerful and historic leader, thus improving the prospects of his son, Jamal, to succeed him. Similarly, Mubarak was hoping that a prisoner-exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel would be achieved through Egyptian mediation. But in recent weeks he has been forced to see Hamas dump Egyptian negotiators in favor of German security officials. Some Hamas representatives have openly chastised Mubarak's negotiators for being "biased" in favor of Israel. In other words, Hamas is telling the world that it trusts the Germans more than it trusts its Muslim brothers in Egypt. Relations between Hamas and Cairo have been tense ever since the movement took full control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Since then, the Egyptians have done almost everything to isolate and weaken the Hamas government in the Gaza Strip. This includes the continued closure of the Rafah border crossing and other restrictions imposed by Egyptian authorities. The Egyptians' main concern is that Hamas would "export" its radical ideology to Egypt.
Reports about increased cooperation between Hamas militiamen and Egyptian smugglers and members of other Islamic fundamentalist groups in Sinai have prompted the Egyptian security forces to beef up their presence in the area. Tensions between Hamas and Cairo reached their peak last month with the death of a Hamas operative in an Egyptian prison. The victim was the brother of Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri. Hamas rushed to accuse the Egyptian General Intelligence Service of torturing the man to death. The allegation was broadcast on many Arab satellite TV stations, seriously embarrassing Mubarak, whose spokesmen have since been struggling to convince Arab and Muslim viewers that the Hamas man died of natural causes. Over the past few days, Hamas militiamen have opened fire several times on Egyptian border policemen and laborers who are involved in the construction of the metal wall. The shooting incidents have also escalated tensions between the Hamas leadership and Cairo. An all-out confrontation between Hamas and Egypt will undoubtedly undermine Mubarak, because it will make him appear as if he's helping Israel and the US in their war against the movement. A confrontation will also send the message that Mubarak is also involved in the "siege" on the Gaza Strip. Hamas, on the other hand, stands to win from a standoff with a regime that is regarded by many Arabs and Muslims as a puppet in the hands of the Israelis and Americans. And any victory for Hamas is also a victory for Damascus and Teheran. JPost
 “Brothers and sisters, we will not be satisfied with Gaza. Hamas looks toward the whole of Palestine.” So said Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh on Monday as he addressed a rally in Gaza City to mark the 22nd anniversary of Hamas’s founding as the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood. As one report describes it, “Tens of thousands of Hamas supporters thronged downtown Gaza City…. Gaza was decked out in Islamic green, with Hamas flags fluttering from roofs, lampposts and cars. Some parents dressed small children in combat fatigues and green Hamas headbands. “The crowd packed an outdoor square where a huge banner draped over the wall of a building showed a picture of Jerusalem’s main Islamic shrine and photos of senior Hamas figures. “Leaders made fiery speeches, bands played and scout troops marched in processions….” At a time when both the United States and the European Union treat Palestinian statehood as one of the cardinal goals of international politics, seemingly these lines are worth pausing over.
When one speaks of “the Palestinians”—the allegedly deprived group that receives more attention and assistance than all others—one is speaking in large part of supporters of an Islamic-fundamentalist movement whose proclaimed goal is the destruction of Israel pure and simple. The people willing to “dress small children in combat fatigues and green Hamas headbands” are—in considerable part—“the Palestinians.” Hamas also reportedly released a statement on Monday that said it was still willing to reconcile with the rival Fatah movement, and that abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit would not be freed until Israel acceded to all of Hamas’s demands for the freeing of major terrorists. Is Hamas’s confidence and bravado justified? According to the Israel Defense Forces, the answer is, yes. The IDF believes that “a new round with Hamas could be just around the corner” and that “this future conflict will be far different than its predecessor, and likely more lethal.” With the rocket and mortar fire from Gaza having, indeed, gone way down since Israel’s war on Hamas last December and January—from about 3,000 rockets and mortars in all of 2008 to about one-tenth that number so far this year—why the pessimism? One reason is that since that time Hamas has been engaging in an “unprecedented rearmament process.” Despite all the talk after the war about a concerted international effort to stop the smuggling into Gaza, Hamas has actually increased the smuggling and brought in long-range Iranian missiles, advanced Russian-made antitank missiles, and much else. But apart from all that brawn, Hamas is also applying brains. Next time around it “plans to use more civilian infrastructure; for example, the group has already taken control of over 80 percent of Gaza’s mosques, which it uses to store weapons and shelter command-and-control centers. “Hamas believes it can overcome Israel’s qualitative edge by either forcing the IDF to penetrate deep into the residential areas to target its command centers and bases that are being ‘padded’ with civilians, or by provoking the IAF to attack by air, an act which runs the risk of major international condemnation.” You could call it the Goldstone effect. Hamas knows that since last winter’s war, the side that has come in for moral censure—epitomized by the UN Human Rights Council’s Goldstone Report that accused the Jewish state of war crimes on the basis of spoon-fed Hamas propaganda—is Israel. The side that turns places of worship into weapons storerooms, uses civilians as military fodder, and dresses up children as holy warriors is, after all, “the Palestinians.” On the military side, the IDF is reportedly “preparing accordingly and…already training its forces based on future operational models. To date, several brigade-level exercises have been held.” On the moral side, Israel knows it will face the usual uphill struggle to establish that it has the right to defend itself. FPM
 A new campaign has been launched across the Internet to close the Al Aksa mosque to Muslim worshippers until Hamas terrorists return kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, held in captivity since his abduction near the Kerem Shalom crossing on June 25, 2006. A petition has been making the rounds, calling on the Israeli police to close the Temple Mount to Muslims until Shalit is released without preconditions. The campaign, which is being carried out under the banner, "Without Gilad, There is No Mosque" was initiated by Temple Mount activist Yehuda Glick, who spoke with Arutz Sheva about the project. "The Temple Mount is our heart of hearts, and an IDF soldier rotting for three years in a hovel without a minimum of basic rights is also in our hearts. The only thing that we can do to hurt the Muslim public is to block their access to the Temple Mount," Glick said, adding that he hopes the pressure from the entire Muslim world will force Hamas to free Shalit in order to reopen the Mount. "We will have to take measures that hurt the Muslim public," he said, adding that he is not concerned about the possibility the idea may cause riots in Jerusalem. "Why aren't they worried over the idea of kidnapping a soldier?" he asked. Glick said he is aware the chances are slim that his proposal will be implemented, or even be heard by government ministers. "I am speaking to the people of Israel and not to the government of Israel. We want to connect the people of Israel with the Temple Mount -- to raise our consciousness." A senior Hamas source told an Italian news agency on Monday that the "ball was in Israel's court" on negotiations over Shalit's freedom. Muhamad al-Katri, the Hamas official in charge of prisoners' affairs, said the terrorist group had even agreed to have Shalit examined by French doctors despite concerns that such a visit would diclose the hiding place where the hostage is being held. German mediator Ernst Uhrlau meanwhile arrived Monday in Tel Aviv with the terrorist group's response to Israel's latest offer on a swap deal for Shalit's release. He is expected to return to Gaza within a few days.
On Sunday, the London-based Arabic-language Al-Hayat newspaper reported that a team of four French doctors indeed accompanied the German mediator to Gaza -- a week ago Sunday -- to examine the Israeli soldier as a confidence-building measure in the negotiations. According to the report, the doctors, all specialists in different fields, arrived with Uhrlau in Cairo and entered Gaza through the Rafiah crossing. They allegedly examined Shalit in the hiding place where he is being held prisoner. INN
 Much work remains before a swap deal for the release of captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit's can be completed, a Hamas source said Saturday evening. Negotiation teams on both sides as well as the German mediator still have plenty of work left ahead of them before finalizing the deal, he said. The source estimated that no breakthrough in the Shalit affair can be expected before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming trip to Germany.
Egyptian and Palestinians sources estimated that the contacts will be accelerated at the end of the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice Monday. "Conditions are not yet right for a deal or even for a breakthrough," the Hamas source said. He added that the movement is still waiting for answers from Israel to be relayed by the German mediator. The source noted that some disagreements still persist, but refused to provide details regarding the names of Hamas prisoners still under debate. Over the weekend, Arab media outlets presented various reports in respect to the Shalit swap. According to some reports, Egyptian officials will be entering the Gaza Strip and transferring Shalit into Egypt as part of the agreement, before handing him over to Israel. Meanwhile, Fox News reported that the main disagreement still hindering a deal was the question of where to banish Palestinian prisoners from east Jerusalem.
 Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a delegation from the European Jewish Congress that the continuing captivity of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit by Hamas is intolerable and a humanitarian issue of the highest regard Tuesday night. The delegation from the European Jewish Congress (EJC), the democratically elected representative body of European Jewish communities, brought up the issue of Shalit during their meeting with Lavrov in Moscow. Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of the EJC, presented the Russian Foreign Minister with a book that Shalit wrote when he was 11 years old called “When the Shark and the Fish First Met”. Lavrov told the delegation that he is in constant communication with the Shalit family and that the Russian government would provide any assistance that would be required. Kantor spoke about how important the Shalit affair was for the EJC. “The continuing incarceration of Gilad Shalit is a humanitarian issue of great concern to Israel and the Jewish people,” Kantor said to Lavrov. ”Given Russian influence in the Middle East we would like to ask what Russia can do to help solve this issue.” The EJC delegation is in Russia to discuss major issues of concern to the Jewish community and will meet with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday. The delegation arrived in Moscow to discuss Russia’s attitude towards tough sanctions against Iran in the wake of the stalled P5+1 talks. The P5+1 consists of the permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia - and Germany. “It is vital that there is consensus on the next step should the talks fail. Russia is a vital part of any chances that a strong sanctions program will achieve its object and end the nuclear stand-off peacefully,” Kantor said. “We also asked the Russian leaders to impress the need for tough sanctions with their allies, including the Chinese.” Another issue of particular concern to the EJC is the possible delivery to Iran from Russia of the S-300 missile system. “If the S-300’s were in the hands of the Iranians we can kiss goodbye any chance of a peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue,” Kantor continued. “It is clear that the Iranians already see themselves as able to dictate terms to the international community, this missile system would allow them to think of themselves as completely above the law and would act with complete impunity.” YNet
 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to address recent reports indicating progress on a prisoner swap with Hamas that would see captive soldier Gilad Shalit returned to Israel, saying a deal with the Islamist group has yet to be finalized. During a Likud faction meeting on Monday, the PM said any prisoner exchange agreement would be discussed by the Knesset and would require the cabinet's approval. "I cannot say yet whether a deal will in fact be struck. It is not only up to us. There is hesitancy on the part of the other side as well," he said. "It is still unclear what will happen – what will be offered and to what we will agree to." During the meeting, Netanyahu spoke of the dilemma Israel is facing. "On the one hand, we want to look after our soldiers and bring them back home - a value that our nation and Jewish tradition hold in the highest regard - but on the other hand we want to avoid future kidnappings." A delegation from Hamas, which controls Gaza, crossed into Egypt for a meeting with Egyptian security officials in Cairo to discuss the deal that Egypt and Germany have been mediating. According to a member of the delegation, which is headed by Mahmoud al-Zahar and consists of senior Hamas figures from Gaza and Damascus, the Islamist group insists that Israel release imprisoned Arab-Israelis and residents of east Jerusalem as part of the deal. Israel has so far refused to include them in any prisoner swap. A Hamas source told Ynet that the talks in Cairo are also focusing on Israel's demand that some of the Palestinian prisoners be exiled and forbidden from returning to their homes in the West Bank. More at YNet
 GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — A Gaza charity headed by the interior minister of the militant Hamas group on Wednesday offered $1.4 million to any Arab citizen of Israel who abducts a soldier. Palestinians have frequently called on Israeli Arabs to abduct Israeli soldiers, but this is the first time that money has been offered. The Waad group from Gaza offered the bounty for Israeli soldiers in an e-mail sent to Palestinian media. The organization, which supports Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, is headed by Hamas' Interior Minister Fathi Hamad. The minister did not return messages seeking comment. The charity could presumably raise the cash through its connections with Hamas. The militant group is thought to have millions of dollars at its disposal, both through its tight control of Gaza and support from Iran and other allies. Waad's director, Usama Kahlout, said the bounty was in response to an Israeli group's offer to pay Gaza residents for information on the whereabouts of Sgt. Gilad Schalit, an Israeli soldier captured more than three years ago by Hamas-allied militants. The Born to Freedom Foundation offered $10 million for information pertaining to Israeli soldiers missing in action or held captive. Activists routinely call phone numbers in Gaza as well as in Lebanon looking for leads on missing Israeli soldiers. Israeli intelligence is also believed to call Gazans in search of information. German mediators are currently overseeing negotiations between bitter rivals Israel and Hamas to exchange Schalit for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. Israel is holding some 7,500 Palestinian prisoners. Schalit is the only Israeli held by Hamas, while four Israelis who disappeared in Lebanon in the 1980s remain unaccounted for. On Wednesday, visiting French foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, met with Schalit's parents in Jerusalem.
The Schalits have French citizenship, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has offered his support to the family. FoxNews
 Hatem Qafisha steps out of Israeli prison on Sunday after one year in detention; spent total of 10 years behind bars.
Israel on Sunday released Hamas Member of Parliament Hatem Qafisha after a year in detention, allowing him to return to his home in the West Bank city of Hebron.
The 49-year-old Palestinian was greeted by members of his family and officials of the Islamist movement Hamas, including Parliament Speaker Aziz Duwaik.
Duwaik himself was only released in June after spending three years in Israeli prison, while Qafisha has spent a total of 10 years behind bars in several stints.
Hamas won 74 seats in the Palestinian parliament at the last election in 2005, when President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement took only 45 places.
Israel arrested dozens of Hamas lawmakers across the West Bank after the Hamas members seized Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in a cross-border raid in June 2006. Shalit remains in captivity to this day.
According to Hamas officials, 15 MPs are still held in Israeli prisons, including 12 from the Islamist movement.
Source: YNet
 Ali Waked Israel's reluctance to release a group of 125 Palestinians is holding up a prisoner exchange deal, Osama al-Muzaini, a senior Hamas figure in charge of the negotiations over captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, said Wednesday.
Nearly a month has passed since the Islamist group released a video proving that Shalit is alive and well, but both sides claim a prisoner swap is still far off. Al-Muzaini said Hamas cannot agree to a deal that would not include the release of the 125 Palestinians, all of whom are considered "heavy" prisoners. However, he said "serious and intense" negotiations were continuing, as are "efforts to remove the remaining obstacles."
"In any case, there are no developments at this time," said the Hamas figure, "But the German mediator wants to secure an agreement, and we are pleased with his work. I hope this affair will come to an end in the very near future."
Any future prisoner exchange deal will apparently include the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Shalit.
 Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spelled out war crimes that Hamas committed before, during and after the IDF’s Operation Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign in Gaza 10 months ago.
In an interview published in the Washington Post on Saturday, he also said that Israel is “looking into” an independent inquiry on the Goldstone report. His spokesmen later clarified that his statement that does not mean that he wants a probe. The Prime Minister’s office said that the IDF already is probing two-thirds of the allegations against Israel as reported to the United Nations Human Rights Commission by Judge Richard Goldstone. It added that the probe was initiated by Israel for its own needs and not as a reaction to the Goldstone report. The Prime Minister told the Washington newspaper, “The best way to defuse this issue is to speak the truth because Israel was defending itself with just means against an unjust attack. Serious countries have to think about adapting the laws of war in the age of terrorism and guerrilla warfare. If the terrorists believe they have a license to kill by choosing to kill from behind civilian lines, that's what they'll do again and again. What exactly is Israel supposed to do?” He spelled out four specific war crimes that Hamas has committed: calling for the destruction of Israel, in contradiction to the U.N. charter, deliberate attacks on civilians, using Arab civilians as human shields and kidnapping IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been denied access to the Red Cross, a violation of the Geneva Convention. “Who gets accused of criminal behavior at the end of the day? Israel that sent thousands of text messages and made tens of thousands of cellular phone calls to Palestinian civilians to warn them to evacuate,” he said.
Prime Minister Netanyahu also said, ”It is too early to say” anything on the apparent deal between Iran and Western countries on curbing development of its nuclear capability. “The issue is not merely the security of Israel but of the world,” he stated. Concerning the refusal of the Palestinian Authority to resume negotiations, he charged that pre-conditions set by the PA, including a freeze on building for Jews in eastern Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria represents an “old technique [of] ‘Let's agree on what the results of the negotiations will be before the negotiations begin.’” In a separate interview, President Shimon Peres said that the media is mistaken by defining Prime Minister Netanyahu as a “right-winger.”
Asked by the Post about the President's remarks, the Prime Minister responded, “I think we do represent a consensus of the Israeli public. The popular explanation is that this conflict is about the territories captured in the 1967 war. So why did the conflict rage [when] there were no settlements?
The Arabs fought wars and terror campaigns in the 1920s, '30s and '40s against any Jewish state, and then they rejected the partition. Our presence in the territories is not the cause of the conflict but one of its results.” Source: INN
 Israel must display vision and seize the current window of opportunity to resume negotiations on a final peace treaty with the Palestinians before it closes, United Nations Middle East envoy Robert Serry said on Friday. US President Barack Obama took office in January and "from day one" made a Middle East peace deal a priority, Serry said. Despite hard going so far Obama is not giving up, and he has full European Union, Russian and United Nations backing. "I am pessimistic that another such opportunity would come anytime soon," the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process told Reuters in an interview from his Jerusalem office. "The window is closing down ... we should not believe time is on our side." "The parties, deep down, know what it takes. They need the political will," the envoy said. "Frankly I don't see urgency on the Israeli side. I would like to see more commitment." "If Israel has a sense of urgency and finality it will live up to its commitments," Serry said. To those Israelis who believe the status quo is acceptable, he said: "I do not agree." It is obvious, Serry added, that there is no point in "talks for the sake of it". The negotiations must have "a credible political horizon", with two-state solution at the end. They must resume where they left off with the last Israeli government in late 2008, and not start from scratch while the new Israeli government continues to permit the building of settlements on occupied West Bank land, he said. Read more here,,,, Source: YNet
 by Daniel Greenfield Muslim terrorists pride themselves on their amorality. On having no individual sense of right or wrong, only the abstract codes of Islamic law that can be modified at will to allow terrorists to do virtually anything to anyone, so long as it is in the name of the Jihad. The atrocities of Jihadists around the world, whether it is beheading schoolgirls or contractors, murdering teachers, blowing up buses, murdering babies, torturing hostages to death or blowing themselves up in cafes; is not simply about achieving a tactical goal. In most cases there is no practical goal to be achieved through these acts except terror. And that is the point.
The goal of terrorism is terror, to intimidate your enemies through monstrous and inhuman acts.
And Muslim terrorists pride themselves on being monsters, on transforming themselves into creatures capable of the worst bestial acts, culminating in the ritual of human sacrifice that has become so vital to the cult of death that is Islam’s Jihad, the suicide bombing. By contrast Muslim terrorists sneer at the human weaknesses of their enemies, their genuine love for their families and their fear for their safety, their love of life and their willingness to show mercy and to trust.
And Muslim terrorists and infiltrators are the first to take advantage, to play on and exploit these qualities. Qualities which they themselves only mime. A true committed Islamist will show love or concern for his family, mercy or trust for non-Muslims only as a propaganda ploy.
This ploy will be set aside in seconds when it suits him. The father who moments ago was bewailing his wounded child, will grab and use him as a human shield. He will plunge a knife into the neck of his Western friend and co-worker who has been at his house dozens of times and played with his children. He will feel nothing while doing it, only a sense of triumph and pride in his devotion to Islam. All this has happened over and over again, and will go on happening, because Islamists are taught and trained to only have one love and one passion, Islam. Any human attachments are purely secondary and easily discarded. Any human concepts of guilt or morality are buried. Islamic law frees the terrorist from all human norms. He may kill, rob or rape. He may take on any disguise, drink alcohol, curse and commit every act explicitly prohibited by the Koran or the Hadiths. He can indulge his appetites in every way, so long as in exchange he is willing to kill and die in the name of the Jihad.
That is the devil’s bargain that forges an active Islamic terrorist, an amoral cunning entity who has only one ultimate goal, to corrupt, divide and kill the enemies of Allah. Read more here,,,, Source: CFP H/T: Gramfan
 by Maayana Miskin Former United States President Jimmy Carter played an active role in the Israel-Hamas exchange last week in which Israel released 20 female terrorists in exchange for a short video of hostage soldier Gilad Shalit. Carter's involvement was revealed by senior Hamas terrorist Mahmoud A-Zahar in an interview with the Arab-language daily Al-Kuds al-Arabi. While current U.S. politicians do not speak to Hamas, which is recognized internationally as a terrorist group, Carter has had frequent contact with the group as a private citizen. He has met with Hamas's Gaza head, Ismail Haniyeh, and its foreign leader, Khaled Mashaal. In December of 2008 Carter met with Mashaal and advised him on the price to demand in exchange for Shalit. Carter has also met with Shalit's family, and in a visit during June 2009, reported that he had delivered a letter from them to Hamas to give to the captive soldier. Carter has pushed Israel to open direct negotiations with Hamas, and during his June visit, expressed disappointment in Israel's lack of empathy for Hamas's aims.
“Unfortunately, Israelis don't remember that there are 11,700 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails... They don't understand Hamas's aim to bring about the release of at least some of these prisoners,” he said in a meeting with members of Gush Shalom. Carter expressed sympathy with Palestinian Authority terrorists held in Israel, telling Gush Shalom members that they fared worse than Shalit during their incarceration. Also Involved: Germany
A-Zahar also credited German mediators with bringing about the swap of terrorists for video footage. The swap proves that German involvement in the Shalit affair could bring about results, he said. Source: INN H/T: Atlas
 DAMASCUS, Syria — The exiled leader of the militant Hamas group is threatening to capture more Israeli soldiers in order to win the release of Palestinian prisoners. In a speech in Damascus, Syria, Khaled Mashaal congratulated the Palestinian people on Israel's release Friday of 19 female prisoners in return for a video of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit. Mashaal promised to work for the release of thousands of Palestinians held by Israel. He said those who were able to capture Schalit and hold him safely for more than three years are capable of capturing "Schalit and Schalit and Schalit until there is not even one prisoner in the enemy's jails." Source: FoxNews
 Nineteen female Palestinian detainees have been released from an Israeli prison in return for a videotape of a soldier captured by Gaza fighters in June 2006. A 20th female prisoner will be released, probably next week, the office of Binyamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has said. Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from the occupied West Bank, said those freed on Friday were handed over to the Red Cross after their release from the Hasharon prison. Eighteen of the prisoners were released to the West Bank, and the other, Fatima al-Zeeq with her 18-month-old baby was returned to Gaza. "Today is like a huge party," said Nisrin Hamdan, 26, as she waited outside Ofer military camp with several of her children, all wearing T-shirts bearing a picture of their 60-year-old mother, held for assisting a suicide bomber. "My mother has been absent for seven years and today we will have her in our home." Also among those awaiting their loved ones was Nawal Hossein, 37, an aunt of a 22-year-old prisoner who was serving a 20-month sentence for plotting to become a suicide bomber.
Odeh said the one-minute video received in the exchange by Israeli officials was seen as proof of life for its captured soldier, Gilad Shalit. The video was sent directly to family members in northern Israel. An Israeli official who viewed the video said Shalit looked healthy and coherent. The exchange deal marks a breakthrough in nearly three years of Egyptian-brokered negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the soldier. German mediators joined the talks in July. Shalit was seized by fighters from Hamas and allied groups during a raid on an Israeli border base in 2006. Until Friday, the only signs of life from Shalit have been several letters and an audio recording. Only one of the letters - written three months after his capture - has been released, just last month. Hamas has not allowed the Red Cross to visit the soldier. Hamas is demanding that Israel release hundreds of prisoners, many of whom are serving lengthy sentences for attacks on Israelis, in exchange for the soldier. Currently, more than 9,000 Palestinian prisoners remain behind Israeli bars.
The Palestinian Liberation Organisation, the Palestinian Authority and Hamas all insist there can be no peace deal with Israel before all these prisoners are freed. Source: Al Jazeera (English)
 Ali Waked Osama al-Muzaini, a senior Hamas member responsible for talks over the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilda Shalit, welcomed the "videotape deal" approved by the Israeli government on Wednesday, saying it was a source of optimism.
According to the Prime Minister's Office, Israel will release 20 female Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a videotape containing a sign of life from the captive soldier.
Al-Muzaini confirmed that the German mediator between Israel and Hamas had a key role in the deal, alongside Egyptian mediation efforts.
Israeli officials said Wednesday evening that the tape slated to be handed over to Israel is one-minute long and shows the kidnapped soldier with his face to the camera. The video will also include proof that it was taken recently.
"This deal was made possible thanks to the effort made by the German mediator and his ability to create a breakthrough," he said. "We don't want to sink in optimism because there are still obstacles, but this partial deal provides a foundation for optimism."
He noted that the rest of the female Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel would be released as part of the first stage of the Shalit deal. According to al-Muzaini, the first stage would include the release of 28 additional female prisoners, including Jerusalem residents.
The Shalit family welcomed the deal on Wednesday afternoon. "We wait breathlessly to receive a first authentic sign of life from Gilad," the captive's relatives said in a statement.
The deal is meant to take place this Friday. The list of prisoners slated to be released was published on the Israel Prison Service's website, in order to allow petitions to be filed against their release in the 48 hours left before the deal is implemented. Source: YNet
 By KHALED ABU TOAMEH Fatah welcomes a new Egyptian proposal aimed at solving its dispute with Hamas, a high-ranking Fatah official said on Thursday. The Egyptian proposal has the support of the Hamas as well. "Fatah has welcomed and accepted the latest proposal," said Jibril Rajoub, the newly-elected member of Fatah's Central Committee, who said that the proposal would bring the two rival parties closer to signing a "national unity agreement." "President Mahmoud Abbas accepted it after holding consultations with Fatah leaders in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and abroad," Rajoub said, adding that he and a group of senior Fatah leaders were planning to visit the Gaza Strip soon for talks with Hamas leaders. The purpose of the meeting, he said, was to find ways of ending an ongoing power struggle with the Hamas. Earlier this week, sources close to Hamas told The Jerusalem Post that the two parties were scheduled to sign a reconciliation accord under the auspices of the Egyptians before the end of this year. The sources said that the breakthrough in the Hamas-Fatah talks came after the Islamic movement's leader, Khaled Mashaal, held talks in Cairo last weekend with senior Egyptian government officials. On Thursday, Mashaal stopped at Cairo International Airport on his way home from Sudan. A Hamas official in the Gaza Strip said that Mashaal met at the airport with Gen. Mohammed Ibrahim, a senior official with Egypt's General Intelligence Service. The two discussed latest developments related to Egypt's efforts to end the Hamas-Fatah rift and the case of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, the official told the Post without elaborating. On Wednesday night, leaders of various Palestinian factions, including Hamas and Fatah, were handed a draft of the latest Egyptian proposal for ending the crisis in the Palestinian arena. The proposal, which has been accepted by both Fatah and Hamas, calls for holding presidential and parliamentary elections in the Palestinian territories in the first half of 2010 and not in January of the same year as originally planned. The initiative divides the Palestinian territories into 16 electoral districts, 11 in the West Bank and the remaining five in the Gaza Strip. The vote, according to the proposal, would be held under Arab and Western supervision to guarantee their honesty and fairness. On the issue of security, the initiative envisages the establishment of a security committee that would consist of "professional" officers and which would be placed under the supervision of the Egyptians. The committee's main task would be to oversee the revamping of the Palestinian Authority security forces. The Egyptians also want to see another committee, comprising representatives of all Palestinian factions, tasked with the mission of preparing for elections, reconciliation among warring factions and rebuilding houses that were destroyed during Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip. Read more here,,,,, Source: JPost
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Hamas political leader has said that his group will not recognise Israel despite new pressures and will give priority to building resistance to the Jewish state. 
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