Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshal announced that without Israeli releasing all the terrorists appearing on the Hamas list, IDF soldier Gilad Shalit will not be released. A policy of “stubbornness” as was seen with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will not result in Shalit’s release.

In a reference to the United States, the senior terrorist stated Hamas is aware of the steps being taken by US President Barak Obama, calling his statements “a first step towards an unconditional dialogue and we applaud this”.

He stressed that the Hamas leadership was elected in democratic elections and the international community must respect this accordingly.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)