Hamas PM Throws Tantrum, Says Israel Doesn't Play Fair

The latest developments in the IDF offensive to obtain the return of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit are that Israel has arrested over 60 Hamas officials, and bombed the Hamas Interior Ministry.

These measures are aimed at putting pressure on the Palestinian Authority to release the soldier, to hem in the kidnappers so they can't escape, and to hopefully find Galid and get him back through force. Like America, Israel does not negotiate with terrorists. It just doesn't pay.

The Prime Minister of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, has made his first public speech since the beginning of this offensive, and he claims Israel is using force so they don't have to negotiate.

Haniyeh: "When they kidnapped the ministers they meant to hijack the government's position, but we say no positions will be hijacked, no governments will fall," he said.

Another official of Hamas makes another statement:

"Mohammed Nazal, a Damascus-based member of the Hamas politburo, told The Associated Press on Friday that Israel is not serious about negotiating Shalit's release.
"Israel is negotiating by fire," he said. "They're buying time until they can locate the soldier through intelligence and then try to free him." "

(Both quotes can be found at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885888938&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull)

I'd like to resond in kind.

First of all, Israel did not "kidnap" anyone, Mr. Prime Minister of terror. Hamas kidnapped an Israeli soldier through the use of a pre-meditated tunnel that took two months to dig. Israel, in turn, arrested the officials of your government which is responsible for this crime and act of war. Those ministers that were arrested are not to be used as bargaining chips - they have been arrested as party to a crime. However, Israel is pretty damned lenient, and if the soldier is returned unharmed, then those ministers will be releases as well, since the crime would have been solved.

Second of all, Mohammaed Nazel, Israel has every right and moral obligation to do whatever is necessary to secure the release of Galid Shalit. In no way, shape, or form should Israel sit back and "negotiate" for the release of their soldier. That is not an option!

Let me put it in a nutshell. Because Hamas kidnapped this soldier, it proves one of two things:

1) Hamas is a terrorist Government, which means they are not to be negotiated with
2) Hamas has committed an act of war, which precludes negotiation (which would be seen as appeasement), and the only option is a use of force in return.

So, Hamas officials, your whining about how Israel isn't playing fair just doesn't cut it. You made the bed, now you have to sleep in it. Don't complain to us that it happens to be made of shrapnel, tank artillery fire, and jet fuel. You get what you paid for.



Also, President Mubarak of Egypt has publicly stated that Hamas has agreed to release the kidnapped soldier, but Israel has not accepted their conditions yet. This was stated yesterday, and as of this morning, Israel still says that have not heard anything about this.