GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip, June 25, 2007
Captured Israeli Soldier: I Need Help
Hamas Releases Gilad Shalit Audio On One-Year Anniversary Of Capture, Start of Summit
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A family photo of Cpl. Gilad Shalit, then 19. (AP)
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The entire Arab world "will see two very prominent national leaders shaking hands with the head of the Palestinian Authority and the prime minister of the state of Israel," said Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, before he did just that with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Sharm el-Sheikh, June 25, 2007. (AFP)
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Noam Shalit calls for the release of his son and two other Israeli soldiers captured by Hezbollah in July 2006 during a protest in Jerusalem, Sunday, June 24, 2007. (Getty Images)
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In the message, posted on a Web site of the Hamas military wing, Cpl. Gilad Shalit said his health is deteriorating and that he needs to go to a hospital. He also said in the brief statement that he is disappointed in the "lack of interest" of the Israeli government in his fate.
The message was released on the anniversary of his June 25, 2006, capture by Hamas-allied militants who tunneled into Israel. Shalit's father and grandfather told Israeli media they believed the voice was Gilad's, although the father expressed doubts to the Ynet news site.
In other developments:
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the tape was "another testimony to the cruelty of Hamas" and that the contents of the tape would be discussed at the summit. However, the prime minister's office said that "there is no change in the government's policy."
"The prime minister has no doubt that the text was dictated to Gilad Shalit by Hamas," a senior official in his office told reporters.
Still, during the summit Monday, Olmert announced, "As a gesture of good will towards the Palestinians, I will bring before the Israeli Cabinet a proposal to free 250 Fatah prisoners who do not have blood on their hands, after they sign a commitment not to return to violence."
It was not believed there was a direct connection between Olmert's announcement and the Shalit tape, only an indirect one.
"The idea is that when Hamas prisoners see the Fatah members getting out, they will pressure Hamas to soften its demands for a prisoner exchange," says Berger. "Also, Israel wants Abbas to get the credit for the release of prisoners and not Hamas."
Olmert also promised to "improve freedom of movement of the Palestinian population in the West Bank substatinally" and reopen trade ties with the territory, saying he wanted to show the Palestinians that "choosing the path of no terror or violence the way of peace and dialogue will bring a better, more comfortable, more peaceful life."
Militants affiliated with the Islamic group Hamas seized Shalit and killed two other soldiers on June 25, 2006, at an army base after tunneling into Israel from the Gaza Strip. Negotiations for his release, mediated by Egypt, have repeatedly broken down and been complicated since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip two weeks ago.
Shalit, 20, had not been seen or heard from since he was captured.
"I feel really sorry for the way the Israeli government and the Defense ministry carelessly handled my case, the way they turned down the demands submitted to them by al-Qassam brigades," Shalit says on the tape. "It is their duty to respond to such demands in order for me to be set free."
"The same way I have a family; a mother and a father, the thousands of Palestinian prisoners have got mothers and fathers of their own," Shalit said.
"I have spent one year in prison now, and my health condition is deteriorating. I'm in constant need of hospital treatment," he said.
"Shalit is alive and in very good shape," said Abu Mujahid, a spokesman for the Popular Resistance Committees, one of three Hamas-linked groups that captured Shalit, earlier Monday. "His health is good and he's stable. We are treating him according to our religion's instructions on how to deal with war prisoners."
Abu Mujahid said Shalit "doesn't need anything" and is receiving the "best treatment."
Meanwhile, the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem accused the militants holding Shalit of war crimes.
"International humanitarian law absolutely prohibits taking and holding a person by force in order to compel the enemy to meet certain demands, while threatening to harm or kill the person if the demands are not met," the group said. "Furthermore, hostage-taking is considered a war crime."
Hamas is responsible for securing Shalit's release since it effectively controls the security situation in Gaza, B'tselem said. The militants holding the soldier have violated international law further by not allowing Red Cross representatives to visit him, the group said.
Abu Mujahid shrugged off B'tselem's accusations, saying Shalit was captured inside a tank that was used to fight Palestinians.
"Any occupiers on the land are a legitimate target because they are soldiers," Abu Mujahid said. Israel is the one that has committed war crimes by killing Palestinian civilians, he said.
As the summit got under way, Olmert held separate talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Abbas. Jordanian King Abdullah II arrived later in Sharm to join them in a four-way meeting later in the evening.
The Arabs and Palestinians are pressing Israel to take immediate advantage of the Hamas militants' expulsion from the coalition government and make quick peace progress despite the Palestinians' split between a Gaza ruled by the Iranian-backed Hamas in Gaza and the West Bank run by Abbas' Western-backed Fatah in the West Bank.
But Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said major peace negotiations cannot take place until the Palestinians end their divisions. He said Abbas needs to win "the full support of the Palestinians who voted for Hamas."
"Obviously if there's more than one representative of the Palestinians then we cannot negotiate a deal," Palmor said. "So we will need to have and the Palestinians will need to have one sole authorized, recognized interlocutor."
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak invited Abbas, Olmert and Jordan's King Abdullah II to Sharm el-Sheik in a show of support for the Palestinian president in his struggle with Hamas. The meeting is also meant to show that Abbas of Fatah can move ahead with peacemaking.
Olmert said the gathering would show all sides' "genuine desire to build up a process" of peace-making.
The message supporting Hamas from Ayman al-Zawahri, who is Osama bin Laden's top deputy, marked a major shift by al Qaeda, which in the past criticized Hamas for joining a government with the U.S.-supported Fatah faction.
The audiotape was clearly made after Hamas' takeover of Gaza earlier this month, marking a rapid response from al Qaeda's top leadership to the events. Its authenticity could not be independently confirmed, but it was posted on a Web forum where al-Zawahri has issued messages in the past.
Al-Zawahri urged Hamas to implement Islamic law in Gaza, telling it, "Taking over power is not a goal but a means to implement God's word on earth."
"Unite with mujahedeen (holy warriors) in Palestine ... and with all mujahedeen in the world in the face of the upcoming attack where Egyptians and Saudis are expected to play part of it," he added, suggesting that the two countries intend to attack Hamas to uproot its control of Gaza.
"Provide them (Hamas) with money, do your best to get it there, break the siege imposed on them by crusaders and Arab leader traitors," al-Zawahri, who is Osama bin Laden's top deputy, said, addressing Muslims around the world. "Facilitate weapons smuggling from neighboring countries."
"We can support them by targeting the crusader and Zionist interest wherever we can," al-Zawahri said.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Truth.
Truth.
Posted by brianbwb
False. They have had numerous occasions to become prosperous and refused it whether Fatah and now Hamas. They deserve their fate which is abandonment save for Al-Qaeda who will do everything it can to spread its filthy philosophy at the expense of good muslims. Death to Hamas and Death to Al-Qaeda. Good riddance to the islamofacists.
Meanwhile the Washington Regime--which has been thoroughly pinned by the GUARDIAN, with reponsibility for encouraging Abbas and Fatah's intransigence, arming and training special units of the presidential guard in an overt threat to the democratically elected government of Palestine, is supporting the vicious cut off of Gaza from the necessities of life--this Washington Regime, has tried to give Hamas the kiss of death through the support of its Orwellian creation...'al Qaeda'.
As probably intended, each inhuman assault on the civilians of Gaza, each cowardly bombing of the civilians of Lebanon, each wanton cruelty to the inhabitants of Iraq and each vile murder of Afghan civilians increases the pressures on so-called 'moderate' regimes in the region--the emirs, shahs, kings, potentates and other craven beasts that suckle at the breast of the fascist internationale.
As if this were not enough, the Washington Regime, with its truckling dogs of the Euro-Union, is renewing the Cold War with Russia, having unilaterally abrogated the ABM treaty and stationing the first-strike necessary ABMs in Eastern Europe with the lying assertion that they are to prevent an Iranian attack.
The neo-Con Regime in Washington are a danger to the world--particular this part of it--America!
Jordan is ruled by an unelected dictator.
Egypt is ruled by a corrupt dictator who has never won a fair election.
Abbas is unelected to the position he is currently claiming.
So, what is Israel intending to accomplish by supporting Middle East dictators?
Shouldn't the US suspend all aid to Israel due to her support for dictators?
The US gives Egypt's dictator Mubarak $10 billion a year so he can maintain his dictatorship.
And, also gives money to the King of Jordan so he can maintain his dictatorship.
And, now we are giving money to a Palestinian dictator (wannabe).
Now that I think of it, we seem to only give money to dictators, we give Musharaf in Pakistan billions so he can maintain his dictatorship.
Gee, I wonder why their victims hate us?
HAMMAS ASK TO RUN IN THE LAST ELECTION AND WON!
THEN THE MONEY WAS CUT OFF BECAUSE HAMMAS WON!
AS THE MONEY GOES THRU ISRAELI BANKS FOR DISTRIBUTION! OH YEA THE KEEP THE INTEREST!
NEOCONS MUST BE TRIED FOR WAR CRIMES!
NEOCONS MUST BE TRIED FOR WAR CRIMES!
Posted by bluestardad
The Islamic arguments on this site, many would notice are often breathtaking in their ignorance & stupidity. I believe that we are witnessing a mental breakdown on an awesome scale. Stupidity is one thing but sheer denial of facts is another. Denial is a deeply entrenched state within Islamic lands. Blame all but themselves for their pitiful state. Ignore or talk around the glaring problems inherent in the Islamic creed. In Islamic culture to do so can cause ones death.
Europe does not owe Mulems anything. This is amplified when Muslems wish to bring their ignorant, violent cult to lands that do not want it and certainly do not need it. Islam has offered the world nothing. Childish debates about the wests declining morals & drinking and obsession with *** is laughable. Google reports huge activity from Islamic countries accessing porn sites. Lebanese Mulems in Australia are the predominant race in Australian jails for rape. The backward nature of Islam is bound to fail... but not until it makes the enlightened west suffer greatly for not bowing to this miserable cult..
Dont bother recycling cherrypicked verses from the Koran to wish away the glaring truth of Islam. It has given nothing of worth to the world (oops sorry - algebra..or was that India..?) & now in its infantile mindset it wants revenge for its utter failure.
Ragheads.
EVEN AS AMERICAN MILITARY AID LANDS IN LEBANON, President Bush is funding Al Qaeda in Lebanon with funds from Iraq!
http://www.newyorker.com/
fact/content/articles/070305fa_fact_hersh
Posted by bluestardad
Denial is a deeply entrenched state within Islamic lands. Blame all but themselves for their pitiful state. Ignore or talk around the glaring problems inherent in the Islamic creed. In Islamic culture to do so can cause ones death.
False
You create you own version of the past, while Haniyeh speaks of the future.
A people "given the chance to prosper", as you say, in an occupied land with closed borders, and ever more land stolen in ever expanding "settlements", and treated not as second class citizens, but more like animals, will not prosper very nuch, try it, you'll understand.
You, like Bush now refer to anyone professing Islam as Al Qaeda, which was nothing more than a CIA construct for proxy against Russia in the Afghan war, and has nothing to do with Islam. Such ignorance is the real danger, as you now wish death on people only because their choice of religion. You would not like people doing likewise to you, so don't expect others to.
Haniyeh speaks truth, it is not the goal of Israel, or the United States to see Palestinian establishment of a sovereign state on their own land, and they will murder all who work for that goal, peacefully or otherwise.
It is you who speaks falsely if you posit that Israel will give up anything without a violent struggle, or that the US will be an impartial broker in this matter.
Olmert is nothing more than a coward who is more willing to see Israelis either die or be removed from their homes then to smash terror. Heck, he even allowed tax dollars and weapons to go to Abbas -
If the Israeli people do not stop behaving like lemmings and waiting for Ahmedinejedad's bomb to arrive, then we must stop foreign aid to that country. I respect Israel, but keeping Olmert in power is tantamount to letting them commit suicide.
Olmert and COmpany should be dragged out of the Knesset feet first, if need be - and a tough no-nonsense, no Palestinian terror state leader should emerge. That is, if anyone in that country has any guts and brains left.
The only reason they've been able to get away with it is because they've gained the support of most Arab leaders. These leaders have done an amazing job at staying in power for the longest time. I feel sorry for anyone who dares challenge them.
I once read how a doctor in Jordan was attending a demonstration in FAVOR of the Palestinians, and how the Jordanian security forces got a hold of him and a whole bunch of protesters. They took them to some tunnel under the police station and put against the wall while the security guys were practicing their martial arts moves on them.
The doctor wrote about how the security people were laughing and screaming at people to stand still so they could practice their kicking and punching.
And that's in "liberal" Jordan. Can you imagine what must be going on in the other Arab countries?
The question is, will this whole fiasco end like it did for the Shah of Iran? A strong ally of the US with a feared security apparatus working for him, and now look at Iran.
Because if it does Israel can kiss its *** goodbye. Especially if it begins to use its nuclear arsenal.
Boil that dust speck! Boil that dust speck! Boil that dust speck! ... LOL
Posted by Prinzowhales
- LOL! You must be the son of Jean de Lafontaine, the french poet-writer, who used animal characters to describe a situation! Way to go Prinzowhales. It puts some fresh air into the discussions.
"Denial is a deeply entrenched state within Islamic lands. Blame all but themselves for their pitiful state. Ignore or talk around the glaring problems inherent in the Islamic creed. In Islamic culture to do so can cause ones death."
You mean like ignorant racists who have to blame other races for their shortcomings?
I think you know what I'm talking about.
These are the words of conquerors that burn in the ears of the people of the Middle East...but never seem to find their way into the mainstream media of the United States.
Posted by j-whitman
How does voting for a organization whose charter calls for the elimination of Jews and the repression of Jews standing up for decency and freedom? Hamas has never renounced its charter,the PLO was FOUNDED by ARAB NATIONS with the purpose of eliminating Israel and disposing theirselves of the their arab brothers(the palestinians) ,Fatah was formed in the same manner except in Kuwait. The Palestinians along with the Israelis have before them now a opportunity to a road map for peace.75% of Palestinians want a new election, apparently they are not satisfied with their choice, if the election were held today the Fatah party which Abbas is a member of would win the majority of the seats.
US1881
Wow, you named all 3 !
Now name me one palestinian of the 10'000 now in israeli jails without charges?
Or the name of the little girl on the Gaza beach last year whose whole family was turned into hamburger meat before her eyes, and which lead to the above mentioned kidnappings.
You see, the israelis have names and are human being with familes - but so are the palestinians!
There is an enormous difference between "recognizing Israel's existence" and "recognizing Israel's right to exist." From a Palestinian perspective, the difference is in the same league as the difference between asking a Jew to acknowledge that the Holocaust happened and asking him to concede that the Holocaust was morally justified. For Palestinians to acknowledge the occurrence of the Nakba %u2013 the expulsion of the great majority of Palestinians from their homeland between 1947 and 1949 %u2013 is one thing. For them to publicly concede that it was "right" for the Nakba to have happened would be something else entirely. For the Jewish and Palestinian peoples, the Holocaust and the Nakba, respectively, represent catastrophes and injustices on an unimaginable scale that can neither be forgotten nor forgiven.
To demand that Palestinians recognize "Israel's right to exist" is to demand that a people who have been treated as subhumans unworthy of basic human rights publicly proclaim that they are subhumans. It would imply Palestinians' acceptance that they deserve what has been done and continues to be done to them. Even 19th-century US governments did not require the surviving native Americans to publicly proclaim the "rightness" of their ethnic cleansing by European colonists as a condition precedent to even discussing what sort of land reservation they might receive.
christian science monitor
b'tselem, israeli human rights org.
true, not true? who knows.
fact is continual war suits israels' neocons just fine - the American money keeps pouring in and arms too - so what the helll, let's keep everything.
more striking , if the statement is true, is that Al-Qaeda, which is a bloodsucker, can nourish itself, finds more adherents to its "cause", if Hamas is pushed farther and farther away from its elected role as representatives of the palestinians.
oldmutt and bushit are total undeniable losers.
Posted by peyton163 at 12:11 PM : Jun 25, 2007
Let me guess. You think of yourself as civilized and probably you go to church every Sunday and slap yourself on the back for being a "good" Christian. It's people like you that brought 9/11 on the US and will bring more on us.
You got a cite for that, bubba? Also, any references on how Jewish children are taught to spit on Christian graves. like you stated the other day?
How about Jews drink the blood of Christian babies for Passover?
Die nazi scum.
"Against all rules of decency, take some poor soldier or in this case one only 19 years old, and yesterday a BBC reporter, torture them . LET THEM GO !"
Yeah, how dare someone capture a SOLDIER and keep him held prisoner for a year.
I mean, it's much more humane to capture "suspects" in an overseas country, kidnap them, torture them and hold them prisoner for a numbers of years without granting them appropriate legal access. Even if they are only 15 years old.
Sigh. I bet you don't even understand the irony of your comments.
However, in the case of the BBC reporter, I completely agree with you.
Abu Mujahid said Shalit "doesn't need anything" and is receiving the "best treatment."
=================================================
Can you believe this Jew? Even trying the old sympathy scam while being a POW! Well, it is their nature. I'll bet he'll wind up owning all the real-estate in Gaza before this thing is through. By the time he's rescued, he'll be living in Florida collecting rent checks from Hamas.
I have dedicated my life to the study of history, and I believe I can bring special wisdom and understanding to this blog.
Here are three concepts to consider. 1. Democracies on the West run on the Judeo Christian foundation, which gave birth to the Magna Carter, 1066. 2.Without that foundation, all other civilizations are in fact struggling groups of envious tribes, comepeting without rule, or respect, and therefore violence of the worst type (torture, baby killing, forced sodomy on boys to make them into suicide bombers (see Arab MEMRI PRESS). 3. We can not just have "elections" and expect the lower tiered civilizations to become Conn. or R.I ( perhaps NJ- just a joke !). They have no history of self control of vilolence, and the states are little more than colonial bargaining lines cutting cross viscious tribes of led by hate filled maniacs, and backed by either oil or diamond. While we respond to cooperative initiations, they respond to brute power.
While we can lead by example, that has not worked for the UN.
Thus, as the Crusaders found , the best course it ISOLATION. Accordingling, we must become energy independent/.
-Thus, as the Crusaders found , the best course it ISOLATION. Accordingling, we must become energy independent/.
Posted by Hamiltongrad
- Two things are to pointed at in your posting.
-First: For somebody who pretends to be fair, sorry, you failed as of me. MEMRI is profoundly biased. Period. So you just can't use it as reference, unless you are part of the Editing team...
-Second: we must become energy independent.
I agree with you. Positively work on it...
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by grazinggoat
June 25, 2007 11:59 PM PDT
- 'Fatah isn't enough
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See all 37 CommentsIsrael needs to finalize agreement acceptable to vast majority of Palestinians'- ynetnews.com
-For those who were enjoying the Isolation and exclusion of Hamas off the meeeting in Sharm-El-Sheikh look this article saying this is a bad move remote controled (AGAIN) by the lunatics and narrow and tight-sighted planners of AIPAC-PNAC in Washington.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3415761,00.html
HAMAS still enjoys, more than ever, the deep support of most of the ground Palestinians, those who are rooted to the people, to the soil of Gaza and West-Bank. Abbas is not convinced of all this game-playing in front of Cameras and official hand-shakings. All conditions imposed on him before getting a concession from the Israelis, are harmful to his credibility and his leadership. No concessions by Israel to their running horse, will translate into more disappointment and resentment from his own supporters toward his dovish approach to peace settlement.
Shaul Arieli is right. Israel needs to have abroader agreement and commitment from all Palestinian, most probably from all Arabs as well... This would be the only way, if they want the Arabs to honor their word, they have to show they are a good asset to have in the Middle-East, not a deleterous one. Hopefully Israel will understand once for all...