Hamas says Suleiman's visit won't help Shalit

Source tells Ynet that Palestinian organization does not expect Egyptian intelligence chief's arrival in Israel to lead to any breakthrough in talks for release of captive soldier or truce agreement. Source also threatens to raise price tag for Shalit's release, says 'we reserve the right to abduct more soldiers'

Ali Waked
Published: 04.20.09, 11:36 / Israel News

The Hamas organization is not pinning its hopes for a prisoner exchange deal with Israel on the upcoming visit of Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman, a Hamas official said Monday.

Instead, Hamas believes Suleiman's visit will amount to nothing more than a chance for him to get acquainted with officials in the new Israeli government.

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The source said no breakthrough was expected on a truce agreement either, and told Ynet, "This is a much more extremist Israeli government, that has already announced it is headed for an escalation.

"Therefore, we don't believe that negotiations will be resumed after the visit, but we may learn from our Egyptian brothers more about the new Israeli policies."

The source estimated that the Netanyahu government's policies would be must harsher than those of the government headed by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.

"In this case, we will hold consultations within the movement to raise the price tag for (captive Israeli soldier) Shalit. We will demand many more prisoners and insist on Arab-Israeli prisoners and we won't pass on the prisoners from Jerusalem.

"Hamas and the organizations holding Shalit also have all options open and raising the price tag is one possibility, and we certainly reserve the right to abduct more soldiers."

The source said that on the Palestinian Prisoners' Day that was held last week, "The Palestinian street gave a clear message saying no to a deal under any conditions less that what was presented in the talks, and pressure to raise the price continues to mount."

Meanwhile, it seems that Ofer Dekel, Israel's special envoy in negotiations for Shalit's release, will be moved from his post by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Prime Minister's Office refused to comment on the matter.

On Monday night, Hamas is expected hold rallies throughout the Gaza Strip in protest of a failed attempt to assassinate Sheikh Hamed Bitawi, one of the prominent leaders of Hamas in Nablus, by a Palestinain Preventative Security Service officer on Sunday.

Hamas held the Palestinian Authority and Fatah "responsible for the crime" and said the movement was inspecting all feasible options to respond to the incident, that took place a few days before dialogue between the two parties is to resume in Cairo.

Gilad Shalit was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip 1,030 days ago

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