Israel arrests Hamas political leaders

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Israel rounded up 10 Hamas leaders in the West Bank early Thursday, two days after indirect talks between Israel and the Islamic militant group on a prisoner swap broke down.

Among those detained were four Hamas lawmakers, a university professor and a former Hamas deputy prime minister.

The Israeli military said in a statement that those arrested were involved in "restoring the Hamas administrative branch." Hamas in the West Bank has been the target of a crackdown by Israel and the security forces of moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the past two years, ever since the militants seized Gaza by force.

The detentions appear to be an attempt to pressure the group after the failure of recent efforts to win the release of an Israeli soldier, Sgt. Gilad Schalit, who is being held by Hamas in Gaza.

Ahmed Bahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, denounced the arrests as "immoral blackmail by the Zionist occupation."

Israel has detained dozens of Hamas politicians in the West Bank on various occasions following the capture of Schalit, 22, in a cross-border raid in June 2006."

more

[bemildred]

1. Uh oh, Olmert is pissed again now. nt

[bemildred]

2. Hamas: If Israel toughens inmates' conditions, we'll do same to Schalit

Hamas on Thursday warned Israel against continuing to arrest Hamas operatives and toughening the conditions of its inmates.

Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman, told Al Arabiya that if Israel worsens the conditions of the group's prisoners, captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit will be treated likewise.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1237461625664&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[pelsar]

5. ohhhh now "were scared"..

are they going to take away shalits TV?..his radio? newspapers?....how about college degree program?....visitation rights?....letters? are they going to take away his time outdoors?

maybe they should treat shalit as their own prisoners get treated....
___

[bemildred]

6. It's a stupid threat.

Always a pleasure when we can agree.

[azurnoir]

3. A Palestinian "unity" government could prove difficult

if all of one sides leaders are in prison, that being said I am not sure how this is supposed to help obtain Shalits release, if that is the intent.

[bemildred]

4. They don't seem to be making much headway anyhow.

Just like Nuttyahoo. But yeah, it's hard to see how the Palestinians can govern themselves if the legislature is all in jail or hiding and the police are not allowed to be armed or defend themselves, etc.

[countryjake]

7. "Bargaining chips"??

It seems that some of those newly arrested had also been imprisoned earlier, back when Shalit was first detained.


read here:

Israelis round up Hamas politicians in West Bank - Thu Mar 19, 2009
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE52I1RN20090319


In the weeks after Shalit's capture, Israel detained dozens of Hamas West Bank politicians, many of whom remain in custody.

At the time, Palestinians accused Israel of gathering "bargaining chips" ahead of a future exchange for Shalit.

Of those detainees eventually released, at least three were among the men seized on Thursday, Hamas lawmaker Mahmoud Musleh said.

"These arrests are an angry reaction by Israel because of the failure of the Shalit deal," he told Reuters.

"This won't do Israel any good."