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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Hamas refuses to comment on prisoner swap initiative |
| 2008-07-24 |
| (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday refused to comment on a initiative proposed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to exchange prisoners with Israel. "There is a decision in the movement not to speak about anything related to the negotiations over the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit who is held in Gaza Strip, in order to achieve the swap under the Egyptian sponsorship," said Ismail Radwan, a Hamas spokesman. Radwan added that the negotiations to exchange Shalit for a number of Palestinian prisoners are halted despite the Arab and international mediation efforts. Hamas demands Israel to free 1,000 prisoners, including 450 who serve life sentences in exchange for Shalit's return. Hamas also wants Israel to release all women, children and old detainees. Radwan revealed that Israel has earlier accepted to free about 70 prisoners out of the 450 and latest reports said that Israel has agreed to release 300. He also ruled out the option of holding direct talks with Israel on the swap as Carter's initiative suggested. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 I would exchange 1000 for Shalit, except they live in Gaza: "Release Shalit or we will kill 1000 of you. Now." |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-07-24 20:55 |
| #1 Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday refused to comment on a initiative proposed by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter to exchange prisoners with Israel. Oh my aching balls. Will this senile old coot hurry up and die. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2008-07-24 09:57 |