http://www.pmw.org.il/LatestBulletins.htm#b300506
Palestinian Authority political leaders
advocated kidnapping-for-hostage policy
By Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook - June 27, 2006
Quote:
Foreign Minister, Mahmud Al-Zahar:
Hamas will not hesitate to kidnap Israeli soldiers "to exchange for [Palestinian] prisoners, should the opportunity arise."
[Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, March 7, 2006]
Interior Minister Saed Siam:
"It is inevitable to kidnap soldiers to exchange for them... There is nothing the resistance cannot do. And when there is a goal and a good plan, the goal can be achieved... [In the past] Hamas succeeded in kidnapping and hiding bodies, but unfortunately, two bodies were handed over for nothing."
[Undated video clip from Abu Dhabi TV - before Hamas came into power]
Introduction:
The Palestinian Authority political leadership has been attempting to distance itself from the kidnapping of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Yesterday, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas instructed PA Prime Minister Haniyeh and Interior Minister Saed Siam to “guarantee the release of the abducted soldier.” [Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, June 27, 2006]
However, one must question the sincerity of such public displays, especially by the Hamas leadership. A review of policy articulated by Hamas political leaders, including Interior Minister Siam himself and the PA Foreign Minister, shows that it was the avowed policy of the Hamas political leadership to kidnap Israeli soldiers as hostages to exchange for terrorists.
There's another clear show of support for the kidnapping from the political leadership. The Hamas website, Palestine-info.net, has celebrated the killings and kidnapping in graphic posters of smoldering and destroyed Israeli positions, with the words: "Smashed Illusion Operation", and "Crushing Blow on Zionist Enemy". [See opposite and below]
Another poster in English on their web site has the names of the three groups accepting responsibility, which includes the Al Qassam Brigades of Hamas, followed by the words:
"In the first movie - Mission 1 - Be Back!"
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The minute Israel negotiates a prisoner release will be the minute Hamas and the Palestinians begin kidnapping Israelis so that they might get ALL of the terrorists released from prison...no matter what deeds they'd committed.
They must not negotiate.