The Saudi newspaper al-Watan reported Tuesday that a hostage negotiations expert from Finland is secretly mediating between Israel and Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal in an effort to resolve the Gilad Shalit kidnapping crisis.
According to the report, it was the Israeli government that requested the expert’s involvement, and he has recently met with Mashaal in Damascus. The expert’s exact role was not disclosed, and it remains unclear whether he is acting in the same capacity as the German mediator who was behind the deal in which Israel freed prisoners in exchange for the release of Elchanan Tannenbaum by Hizbullah and the return of the bodies of three IDF soldiers to Israel.
| Qui Pro Quo |
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| Mashaal: Soldier should be kept alive / Roee Nahmias |
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Hamas' political leader Khaled Mashaal tells news conference in Damascus: 'Our goals and our morals command us to keep the kidnapped soldier alive.' Mashaal insists Palestinian prisoners must be released in exchange for soldier |
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“Currently there are talks behind closed doors on a deal that will include not only the release of prisoners, but also a Hudna (temporary ceasefire) between Israel and Hamas,” the newspaper quoted one source as saying.
It is estimated that the expert was chosen for the role due to his experience despite the fact that Finland currently holds the rotating EU presidency; Hamas is on the organization’s list of terror organizations.
Sources told the newspaper that Egypt’s mediating efforts are not advancing and that the country has asked Saudi Arabia to persuade Hamas to cooperate.
As of now the main mediating efforts are being exerted by the Finnish expert, Turkey, France and Russia. According to Al-Watan’s sources, Turkey’s involvement is vital due to its good relations with Israel, Hamas and Syria, which has influence over Mashaal.
The United States has also praised Turkey for its mediating efforts, which are being led by Ahmed Ardoglu, a personal aide to Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan; Ardoglu recently met with Mashaal in Damascus.
The sources confirmed previous reports, including one published Monday in the London-based Arabic language newspaper Al-Hayat, regarding Israel’s willingness to release Palestinian prisoners.
According to the Al-Watan report, Israel has agreed to free prisoners on condition that the move would not be linked to Shalit’s release. Israel has not disclosed the number of prisoners it plans on freeing or the criteria for their release, the report said.
Meanwhile, Saudi newspaper Okaz has reported that Mashaal is holding unofficial talks with Israel through senior Hamas member Hassan Yousef, who is also currently imprisoned in Israel. According to Palestinian sources, Mashaal has relayed a message to Israel according to which the group would be willing to release Shalit in exchange form the release of Hamas ministers and lawmakers who were recently arrested
by the IDF, this in addition to the release of other senior Hamas members from Israeli jails.
According to the report, Yousef is awaiting Israel’s response on Mashaal’s proposal, but Hamas spokesman Mushir Al Masri denied any contact between Mashaal and Israel, saying “these are baseless statements aimed at ruining Mashaal’s good name.”
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