Israeli failure or psychological warfare attempt? On the backdrop of the public struggle of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit's family, the Palestinian side appears to be increasing the pressure as well.
A Gaza-based website on Sunday quoted a Palestinian collaborator as saying that he had wanted to provide Israel with valuable information on Shalit's location, but that his operator – likely from the Shin Bet security service – "did not listen and was busy."
According to the report on a website specializing in security-related issues, the Palestinian collaborator – who was identified as "M.W." – said that "had the Zionist officer listened to what I had to say, Israel would have recorded a great security and political victory over Hamas."
The man worked with Israel for 11 years and turned himself in as part of an amnesty campaign for collaborators in the Strip, which is about to end in several days. He is now being held by Hamas' internal security organization.
The Palestinians, defined as one of the senior collaborator in the Strip, said that his operating officer had called him once to ask about day-to-day issues. "I tried to explain to him that I have sensitive information about Shalit and the operating officer replied, 'Later, let's focus on the important stuff."