Egypt: Hamas rejects offer for Shalit

Jerusalem Post ^ | 10/3/6 | JPost.com.staff & AP

[SmithL]

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said on Monday that Israel had offered to release up to 1,000 prisoners in exchange for captured soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit, but Hamas had turned down the proposal.

"[There was] a deal that could have freed 900 to 1,000 prisoners, but sadly they have decided to keep holding him," he told Al-Arabiyeh Television.

Egypt has been mediating between Israel and Hamas over the release of Shalit, who was abducted at Kerem Shalom on the Gaza border on June 25.

Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz told Israel Radio on Sunday that the IDF might step up military operations in the Gaza Strip, to put pressure on Hamas to release Shalit and halt the firing of rockets at Israel.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday discussed the situation in the Middle East including the increased strife among Palestinians during a visit of Jordanian King Abdullah II to Cairo.

Mubarak's spokesman, Suleiman Awad, said after the meeting that the talks concentrated on the situation in the Palestinian territories, which has seen increasing internal violence between the ruling Hamas and Fatah.

"Mubarak expressed regret for Sunday's clashes in Gaza between the ruling Hamas movement and groups loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas that left at least seven people dead," Awad said, according to the Egypt's Middle East News Agency.

"Internal Palestinian fighting is a red line that should never be crossed," Awad quoted Mubarak as saying.

Abdullah, who arrived in the afternoon, left Cairo after he and Mubarak had iftar, the sunset meal that breaks the daylight fast of Muslims during Ramadan.

Egypt's state-owned Al-Ahram daily newspaper reported on Friday that unnamed Arab diplomats in Cairo said Washington was trying to persuade moderate Arab states to put more pressure on Hamas to work with Abbas to resume peace talks with Israel. The Islamic group Hamas dominates the Palestinian cabinet and holds a majority in the legislature.

Abdullah's visit came two days before US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to arrive in Egypt where she is expected to meet eight Arab foreign ministers in an effort to revive stalled Mideast peace talks.

[reagan_fanatic]

he is dead and has been for a long time!

The whole deal and hamas rejection of it smells to high Heaven.

I think you're right. He's dead.

[onedoug]

Seems kind of ghoulish to me. How about just kicking out every arab who won't
sign a loyalty oath to the Jewish state and killing any islamist who puts up a stink?

[Brian Allen]

<< But what do I know, I am just a "racist" Zionist bigot. >>

Me, too, I guess.

[Alouette]

How about just kicking out every arab who won't sign a loyalty oath to the Jewish state and killing any islamist who puts up a stink?

After the execution of the Hamas prisoners, they will all be happy to leave.

[Brian Allen]

<< Its such a mistake to offer 1000 for 1. >>

"A mistake?"

Nah.

Try "it's national suicide."

Israel months ago should have killed 10,000 in retaliation for the one!

And then negotiated to not kill the next 100,000 in exchange for his return.

[unionblue83]

Why is there any friggin' negotiating going on to begin with?! He is an Israeli citizen soldier an should simply be set free or taken back by force of arms. Screw negotiating anything with these mohammedan camel fleas. This will merely set a precedent for the next time they decide to snatch another citizen from Israel.

[Brian Allen]

<< It may not be logical and it may not be helpful, but if Shalit has been killed, I have an intense desire to just level the place. >>

Precisely.

There is no cure for cancer and our Judeo-Christian/western/Human Civilization's only hope of surviving the rapidly metastasizing carcinoma we know as "radical" islam is its total surgical removal from the body of the Civilization within which it is absolutely incompatible and toward which it is absolutely hostile.

And what better parts of Civilization's body to begin the required radical surgeries than in Judea, Samaria and Gaza? )G-d knows some of the world's finest (IDF) "surgeons are on call nearby!)

[unionblue83]

A state composted with them sounds better to me.

[Esther Ruth]

I insist that our civilization survive because it is what is best for mankind. NO ONE WANTS drastic measures unless and until it becomes necessary. I think the President is doing everything in his power to avoid such a terrible decision. He is not getting much help.

****
No one wants drastic measures but the devil himself. He's eager to get to seeing the destruction of all God's creation, all of it.
Most people assume the enemy is at worst just about conquering, destroying what it doesn't like, possessing and taking what others used to have, but it is possibly much more than that.

If the enemy is really full of the devil, satan himself, doing his work - then we ask what does the devil wants destroyed and the answer is everything, the whole creation possibly, whatever it takes so he will not be reminded of his enemy, the Creator, God Himself.

So the enemy would love to get to the "drastic measures being taken" as soon as possible cause he will enjoy watching all of what God has created destroyed, the physical Earth and all of the people. There's nothing in the devil's evil soul that wants anything left on the planet living when he is done.

[sheik yerbouty]

If Shalit has been murdered, release the Hamas prisoners over palesimian areas,,,at about 5000 feet!