Bas el-Said, who is serving 35 life sentences in an Israeli prison for masterminding the Park Hotel suicide bombing attack of 2002 spoke with Hamas’ website from prison. He calls the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange deal a “historic event” and expresses his confidence that his colleagues will continue efforts towards obtaining his release. He called the deal a “strategic victory for the Palestinian people”.

He was asked if he says anyway other than continuing the struggle and abducting soldiers to gain his freedom.

“Experience teaches us that this is the only way. All the talking about the release of prisoners as part of signing a final status agreement with the Zionists are simply words. Israel and the Palestinians will not sign such an agreement, not this year, not in ten years, and not in twenty years”.

He adds that at first he was certain that he would be included in the Shalit deal, but it did not happen. “I thought I would have been among those being released however, after learning details of the agreement, I am satisfied and remain full of faith. There are many prisoners who were incarcerated before me and I believe they must be released first”.

He used the forum to congratulate the released terrorists for he feels their joy is everyone’s joy. “Experience has taught us that that patience wins out, yielding better results”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)