The senior Palestinian Authority official stated that the IDF offensive in the Beit Hanoun area of northern Gaza may place IDF Corporal Gilad Shalit in danger. Shalit was kidnapped on June 25 by Hamas terrorists, and has been held in Gaza since then; no evidence that he is alive has ever been released.
A-Zahar warned that if Israeli forces plan to act on possible intelligence information to release Shalit, such an operation may lead to his death. Alternatively, he said that Israeli bombing could accidentally hit a building in which Shalit is being held.
Hamas continues to pressure Israel into agreeing to release 1,000 or more terrorist prisoners in exchange for Shalit. Israeli headlines were full this morning (Sunday) of Hamas protestations that Israel insists on determining the identities of the terrorists to be freed.
At the same time, it was learned that the Arab list of terrorists to be released was drawn up by the prisoner leadership of the terrorists themselves.
Arab Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi met over the weekend in Cairo with al-Zahar, discussing the IDF's ongoing military offensive in Gaza and the recent coalition deal between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Minister Avigdor Lieberman. While Tibi expressed strong objections to the coalition deal, calling Lieberman’s party “racist,” al-Zahar stated the move was a good one, adding it reveals “the true face of the Olmert administration.”
A-Zahar warned that if Israeli forces plan to act on possible intelligence information to release Shalit, such an operation may lead to his death. Alternatively, he said that Israeli bombing could accidentally hit a building in which Shalit is being held.
Hamas continues to pressure Israel into agreeing to release 1,000 or more terrorist prisoners in exchange for Shalit. Israeli headlines were full this morning (Sunday) of Hamas protestations that Israel insists on determining the identities of the terrorists to be freed.
At the same time, it was learned that the Arab list of terrorists to be released was drawn up by the prisoner leadership of the terrorists themselves.
Arab Knesset Member Ahmed Tibi met over the weekend in Cairo with al-Zahar, discussing the IDF's ongoing military offensive in Gaza and the recent coalition deal between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Minister Avigdor Lieberman. While Tibi expressed strong objections to the coalition deal, calling Lieberman’s party “racist,” al-Zahar stated the move was a good one, adding it reveals “the true face of the Olmert administration.”