The Hamas terror organization denied a report Tuesday that it has rejected Israel's latest offer in the negotiations for the freedom of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. A member of Hamas's leadership in Damascus, Usama Abu Khalid, said that Hamas is still discussing the offer conveyed by the German mediator.
Dubai-based Al Arabiya television network reported earlier that Hamas is not satisfied with the number of terrorists Israel is willing to set free, and wants senior terrorists – whose release Israel ruled out – to be included in the deal.
In addition, it said, Hamas does not accept Israel's condition that terrorists from Judea and Samaria be released not to their homes but rather to Gaza or other countries.
There have been numerous reports of a near-deal with Hamas in the more than three years since Shalit was abducted.
Diskin on Abbas and Deal
Shin Bet Director Yuval Diskin told foreign ambassadors in Israel on Monday that releasing all of the terrorists Hamas demanded would be perceived in the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a great accomplishment for Hamas and as a “slap in the face” for PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, who leads rival terror group Fatah.
However, Diskin qualified his assessment by saying that the deal that Hamas wants would not topple Abbas from power. He said that Abbas is already preparing himself and his men for the "day after" the deal. He did not explain what he meant by this.
Regarding the possible release of multi-murderer Marwan Barghouti, Diskin said that the man was “the spirit” behind the "Second Intifadah," and not then-PA chairman Yasser Arafat, as most people think. "Second Intifadah" is the Arab term for the years of murderous terrorism that began in 2000 and claimed over 1,300 Israeli lives.