Fresh Rumors about Shalit (Schalit) deal

It seems there is a new U.S. initiative to free Shalit underway,

According to the story, Israels' abducted  soldier Gilad Shalit will be transferred to Egypt within a few days as part of a prisoner-exchange deal with Hamas, European diplomatic sources said Thursday. The move is part of a new United States initiative that includes Egyptian and Syrian pressure on Hamas, internal Palestinian reconciliation and Israel's opening of the Gaza crossings.  A "reliable" European source said this Egyptian-brokered agreement was reached two days ago. A Palestinian source confirmed the report last night but officials in Jerusalem denied any knowledge of it. Israel will have to release scads of Palestinian prionsers, but Shalit will just get to be in an Egyptian prison, and will be allowed visits by his parents. Maybe.

 

The Hamas can then bargain for the rest of the prisoners they want. The advantages of the deal are clear. The US wins support from Hamas for opening the gates in Gaza. The Egyptians win support for their role in releasing Palestinian prisoners. Shalit gets to see his mommy and daddy. The Hamas gain further legitimacy as a legitimate and respectable genocidal organization, that got a lot of bad guys freed by kidnapping a soldier. Expect more kidnappings in the future. 

 

The Israelis are supposedly beholden to the US for this "favor" and will then need to negotiate with Hamas from a position where Israel no longer has any leverage at all. This is an example of "tough love" for Israel.

 

Whose idea was it? Jimmy Carter's, of course.

 

Ami Isseroff