Hamdan: Visit by German mediator did not bring anything new to Shalit deal

[ 17/10/2010 - 06:51 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Hamas foreign relations head Osama Hamdan denied  TV reports about the German mediator bridging many of the gaps in the prisoner swap deal. Hamdan said Sunday that talks about progress of the trade-off with Hamas are an attempt by Netanyahu to shake off internal pressure from Shalit’s family and others on their side. “There is recognition within [Israel] that Netanyahu is the reason for the delay of the deal, so he is trying to suggest there is progress in the deal while it is he who impairs it,” he added. Hamdan said Hamas is keen on resuming negotiations over the prisoner deal, adding: “There were [agreements] reached previously. And any negotiations must be based on the understandings that Netanyahu backed down on afterward.” Netanyahu said in an interview with Israeli Radio that there was progress in the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, and that rapid efforts were under way to release Shalit and return him to his family. Netanyahu said negotiations for the trade-off resumed two weeks back during a visit by the German mediator to Tel Aviv and the Gaza Strip. Hamas asserted that the mediator came without bringing anything new to the table. For his part, Palestinian analyst Mustafa Al Sawaf said Hamas is looking forward to carrying out the deal in accordance with principles set by resistance factions who have Gilad Shalit detained in their custody. For that reason, Hamas prefers not to comment much on the visit by the German mediator to Gaza and the talks he made, Sawaf said. “Hamas as usual has committed to its obligations, namely not to use the media for the trade deal,” he continued. The Israeli Prime Minister announced that the Shalit negotiations were resumed after a visit by the German mediator, while Hamas committed to silence, saying it was a routine visit. The analyst proposed that the German mediator may have been delivering a message from the Israeli government to Hamas calling for resumed negotiations in the prisoner exchange based on the same point talks were left off several months back. He believed that Netanyahu may have for political objectives deliberately raised the issue to distract public opinion inside Israel in light of controversy about other issues, such as the imposition of vow of loyalty to Israel and settlement activity. Sawaf said he anticipates that Hamas briefed the mediator on its position and responded to Netanyahu’s letter, a move that would place “the ball in Netanyahu’s court.” “If Netanyahu wants to complete the deal, he must [meet with the demands of the resistance movement], and then Shalit will be freed and at liberty.”