Mashaal: Shalit sends his regards
During press conference in Cairo, Hamas politburo chief asked about kidnapped soldier's condition, answers 'he is well and he send his regards.' Al-Hayat newspaper reports Egyptian mediators in prisoners exchange deal made it clear to Mashaal he must be more realistic in his demands of Israel
Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal said during a press conference in Cairo on Saturday that "Gilad Shalit's condition is good and he send you his regards."
The remarks made by Mashaal, who was visiting Cairo for talks with the Egyptian mediators in the deal for the kidnapped soldier's release, were greeted with laughter by the audience at the press conference.
The London-based Arabic-language newspaper reported Saturday that the Egyptian mediators were attempting to get the Hamas organization to tone down its demands of Israel,
According to the report, during a meeting between senior Egyptian officials and the Hamas delegation in Cairo, the Egyptians made it clear to the Palestinians that they "must be realistic in their demands."
According to the report, the Hamas movement demands that Israel releases Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Secretary-General Ahmed Saadat and senior Fatah member Marwan Barghouti.
An Egyptian source told the newspaper, "We advised Hamas to be more realistic in their approach to this issue, and to lower their demands. We also explained to them what would be the negative implications if the siege imposed in Gaza following the kidnapping is not lifted soon, and we made it clear that this would lead to the collapse of the Hamas government."
The same Egyptian source added that the Hamas delegation asked to Egyptians to contact Israel and find out what is the maximal price it is willing to pay for Shalit.
"The Israelis were very clear and said that the siege would not be lifted before Shalit is released," the source said.
'PA to collapse, 3rd intifada to break out'
During the press conference in Cairo, Mashaal was asked about the chances that Hamas would recognize Israel within the 1967 borders.
In spite of many declarations of senior Hamas officials, who said the organization would never recognize Israel, Mashaal only responded that "Hamas has announced more than once that it was working to establish a Palestinian state within the 1967 border."
Asked about Hamas' diplomatic demands over the issue, he said, "First of all, we demand that the occupation ends and that a state is established in the 1967 borders, including Jerusalem. We demand real sovereignity, including the border terminals.
"Second, we will not accept agreements in stages, like in the past. We have national demands, not only demands of the Hamas movement. The Palestinian people will not give in or give them up. If our demands are not met through peace, they will be acehived through resistance."
Asked if he fears a possibility Israel may attempt to assassinate him, he answered, "They can kill me. All I want is to dies as shahid (martyr). They said in the past that (former Palestinian Authority Chairman) Yasser Arafat was the source of the problem, and Israel poisoned him to death.
"And what happened since then? Abu Mazen (Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) was in full power for about a year until Hamas rose to power. Did the United States or Israel do anything for our benefit? I am proud of maintaining the Palestinian rights along with everyone. When Israel and the US criticize me, it honors me."
Mashaal warned of a collapse of the Palestinian Authority, and said a third intifada would break out if the international community fails to provide a political solution for the conflict in the Middle East within the next six months.
"The collapse of the Palestinian Authority is not an objective, but rather one of the outcomes which may take place if the siege continues and if the international interference continues. They are the ones who will bear the consequences if this happens.
"Hamas did not rise to power in order to destroy the Palestinian Authority; the international community did it. The easy solution is for Hamas to concede its responsibility, but it won't. The majority of the people don’t want it to happen as well."
Mashaal added that "once must not make a connection between the issue of the establishment of a national unity government and a truce with Israel or Shalit's release. In terms of the establishment of a unity government there is progress, but Israel is the one opposing the release of prisoners."
