Hamas: Shalit deal within days – or years
Spokesman of group's military wing tells Ynet that in spite of reports on breakthrough between Israel and Palestinians, only those holding kidnapped soldier have the ability to decide what will actually happen. 'Our conditions have not changed. Both Olmert and Abbas cannot speak on our behalf,' he says
Senior Hamas officials confirmed that there was some progress in terms of the deal, but those holding Shalit seek to put things in proportion.
Talking to Ynet, he said that his statements and the recent statement made by Hamas officials were misinterpreted, sometimes in an exaggerated way.
"We are talking about signs for a breakthrough and not about a breakthrough," he said.
Between these two definitions, where does the Shalit issue stand now?
"The Shalit issue could be finalized quickly and could last for a long time. Our conditions have not changed: 1,400 prisoners according to the criteria mentioned at the beginning of the affair, so as far as we are concerned, nothing has changed.
"If this demand is met, the deal could be completed quickly within a short while, and even within days, and if our demands are not met it could also take years. We don’t want to reach a deal for the sake of a deal, because we could have done that a long time ago.
"We are committed to our prisoners and to their release according to the criteria and the numbers we set, and therefore it is good that there are preparations and optimism, but nothing has been finalized yet."
The statements from all directions – also from Israel, also from the Palestinian leadership and also from your direction – talk about days.
"Whoever says that has to take responsibility for what he says. The Shalit issue will only by determined by the three organizations holding him. They will decide. Not (Prime Minister Ehud) Olmert, not Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) and not anyone else can talk on our behalf and say what stands where.
"We spoke about signs for a breakthrough, but I cannot talk about a timetable and about details related to the deal. When it is made clear, we will announce it."
"In the meantime, anything that's being published is the responsibility of those who publish it, and I think it only creates confusion and contributed nothing to the issue. It especially fails to reflect what’s truly happening. We are interested in striking a deal. Our conditions are clear and should not be discussed in the media."
During the last few days, the IDF has boosted arrests of Hamas members in the West Bank. Simultaneously, weapons are being transferred to the Palestinian security forces, particularly to President Mahmoud Abbas' presidential guard.
However, although it has condemned the arms transfer, Hamas seems unfazed by the move.
Abu Ubeida, are you preparing for the possibility of a military confrontation in the Palestinian Authority following the weapons transfer to the presidential guard? Are you afraid of a campaign against you that may end Hamas' rule?
"First, the issue of the weapons – we condemn any supply of arms to the Palestinians from our American or Israeli enemies. These weapons arouse doubts as to the purpose of their senders and the identity of their receivers. But we in Hamas aren't scared. Greater weapons, stronger and greater in numbers – and I mean the weapons that were in the possession of the Israelis – not only did they not hurt us, but they also made us stronger."
"This matter is aimed at pressuring us, and there will no doubt come a day when this weapon is used against Israel, as had always happened in the past. There are many decent men and fighters in the security forces who will put the weapons to use by the resistance to the occupation. Israel's steps and its provocations will not dictate our decisions, which we make independently and not under any kind of pressure."
