A "crisis of confidence" between Hamas and Egypt appears to be the main factor behind the Islamist movement's decision to suspend talks on the release of St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit, Palestinian Authority security officials said Sunday.
Over the past few days, Hamas officials and spokesmen have been talking about seeking a new mediator to help broker a prisoner exchange with Israel. Some Hamas representatives even mentioned Germany as a potential intermediary, pointing out the role German officials played in achieving the recent prisoner deal between Israel and Hizbullah.
The Egyptians, according to the PA security officials, have voiced anger over the statements coming from the Hamas leadership. The Egyptians are said to be particularly enraged over allegations made by unnamed Hamas officials to the effect that Cairo was not an honest broker in the Schalit affair.
The Hamas officials were quoted over the weekend in The Jerusalem Post as accusing the Egyptians of failing to represent the interests of the Arabs in the talks with Israel over a prisoner exchange agreement. "A serious crisis has erupted between Hamas and Egypt," the PA security officials said. "The Egyptians have even threatened to stop their mediation efforts to reach an agreement."
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However, an Egyptian diplomat told the Post his country was continuing to act as a mediator between Israel and Hamas. The diplomat accused unnamed Hamas officials of "waging a smear campaign" against Cairo in a bid to "embarrass the Egyptian government." |