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| Israel-Palestine-Jordan |
| Palestinian prisoners may be exchanged for Shalit |
| 2008-09-11 |
| (AKI) - Israel is expected to free the 40 Hamas Palestinian parliament members held in Israeli prisons, as part of a deal to release captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. The Israeli daily, Haaretz, said if Israel freed the prisoners before the end of 2009, the move would bring Mahmoud Abbas' term as Palestinian president to an early close in a legal sense, though not necessarily in practice. The legislators' release would give Hamas a majority - 74 out of 132 seats - in the Palestinian Legislative Council. The parliament is expected to convene after its Hamas-affiliated members are released, and to decide not to extend Abbas' term beyond January. Abbas is not expected to resign, although the Hamas position would seriously threaten his legitimacy. Hamas is demanding the lawmakers' release as part of the first stage of a deal to release Shalit. Most of the 40 legislators were arrested after the 25 June 2006 cross-border raid near the Gaza Strip that resulted in Shalit's abduction, although some were elected while serving time in prison. Israel is expected to allow the release of the legislators, since most were arrested because they are members of Hamas, and are not considered terrorists. According to Haaretz, the previous Fatah-run parliament passed a law shortly before the 2006 elections won by Hamas stipulating that Abbas' term should run five years - until January 2010 when both parliamentary and presidential elections would be held. But Hamas and several experts in Palestinian law say that the Palestinian election law can be amended by a two-thirds majority, rendering the one-year extension unconstitutional. Hamas says that Abbas' presidency should end this January, unless he wins a new presidential election. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 I'm a barbarian, this I know, I firmly believe that if you hurt me or mine, you die, I'm NOT aiming to torture, just eliminate. Having said that WHY do the Israellis NOT grab the negotiator, and swap him for Shalit, if remains are presented, kill the negotiator/extortionist, and rturn remains for remains. Shortly they'll have a severe shortage of "Negotiators" no one will take the job. Phase two, when "Negotiators" are coerced (Kidnap families, Etc.) provide the negotiator with protection, recover their families, (Unharmed if possible) and kill the kidnappers PUBLICLY.(Anyone going to the kidnappers aid, dies instantly as can be managed) |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2008-09-11 13:04 |
| #3 That's what I said, and while mostly rhetorical I am just firm enough about this to make the point: Israel should not play the sucker's game of prisoner exchange. What has happened in the past is that Israel gives up hundreds of live terrorists and agitators in return for the remains of an Israeli soldier who was tortured and murdered some years before. Now, it's admirable that the Israelis will go to almost any length to get their own back. I appreciate it, and if I were in charge I'd understand the temptation to 'negotiate'. But I also understand that in the end, it's a sucker's game. The more I negotiate, the more I encourage the murderous scum to take more of my people prisoner. And worse. So, you wanna exchange prisoners Mahmoud? Fine and dandy: like for like. You give me the remains of one of my dead soliders, and in return I give you the remains of a thousand of yours. If I don't have a thousand, I'll make them, and you won't like that one bit. Now then, deal or no deal? I'm guessing all talk of these asinine 'exchanges' would shortly thereafter end. Yes, it's a cold, brutal, even bloodthirsty thought. Then again, I'm dealing with the Paleos, today's version of the Thuggees. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2008-09-11 11:51 |
| #2 I read steves comment is that if Hamas gives remains, Israel should give remains it already has, not that they should kill prisoners. Anyway, some interesting stuff on the politics. Time for Abbas to simply dissolve the Pal Parliament, I think. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2008-09-11 10:59 |
| #1 I'm with Dr. Steve from yesterday. Any exchanges should be done in kind: an alive Shalit for X number of alive Paleos. If he's dead, kill the Paleos...so, how many you wanna exchange now? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-09-11 05:22 |