Muhammad Nazzal, a member of Hamas' political bureau in Damascus, said Tuesday that great progress had been made in recent days in the negotiations for the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Speaking to the London-based Arabic-language newspaper al-Quds al-Arabi, Nazzal said that Israel
had erased former Fatah leader in the West Bank Marwan Barghouti from the list of prisoners it plans to release, as per the request of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
| Prime Minister Olmert: |
|
| 'Not optimistic on Shalit' / Roni Sofer and AP |
|
Speaking at Conference of Presidents gathering, prime minister puts damper on prospects of abducted IDF soldier's release, stresses that IDF has 'free hand' in Gaza and will hit anyone who attacks Israel |
| Full story |
|
|
|
"The Germans told us that some people in the Fatah movement, headed by the Palestinian Authority chairman, asked not to include Barghouti's name in the list handed over to the Hamas
movement," Nazzal said. "Their excuse was that such a move would be recorded as a Hamas achievement."
Nazzal added that the Hamas leadership had announced that it refuses to erase Barghouti's name from the list, stating that if Fatah insists on doing so, it would have to inform the Palestinian public about it openly, giving the Palestinian people the option to make the decision.
Nazzal was asked whether there was a chance that his movement would talk to Israel about a truce, which would bring about a cessation in the rocket fire and an end to the Israeli assassinations.
"The truce issue is separate from the Gilad Shalit issue. Regarding the truce, Hamas has told Egypt and all the relevant parties that it would agree, under the condition that the truce will be mutual and complete on both sides."
Despite the optimistic reports in Israel on progress being made in the talks for the release of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, a senior Hamas member told
Ynet on Monday that "no breakthrough has been made in the negotiations.
"The Palestinians are waiting for an Israeli confirmation of the identity of the prisoners who will be released and of the number of prisoners who will be freed."
According to the source, "The Palestinians are demanding guarantees on the way Israel plans to implement its part in the hostage exchange agreement.
"The second part of the deal will begin with Shalit making his way to Egypt. If he reaches Egypt and Israel decides to violate its commitment, will someone be able to guarantee that this will not happen? This is why we demand clarifications regarding the guarantees as well."
RSS
