The State Prosecutor’s Office has revealed that Israel plans to release 980 terrorists in exchange for Gilad Shalit.
As part of an agreement with Hamas, which would allow the return of soldier Gilad Shalit to Israel,” the State said in its response, “there is a possibility for the release in principle of about 450 prisoners whose names are being delivered by Hamas, and whose release is being examined in detail in accordance with different considerations and based on rationales of security and values.”
The State added, “It should be stressed that contrary to the release of prisoners as part of a gesture and/or diplomatic agreement, this is an incident of bargaining, which can be seen as an ongoing terror attack, as part of which negotiations are being held to reach the lowest price possible as far as the State of Israel is concerned.”
The State went on to detail the second stage of the deal: “As a gesture to the Palestinian people, some 530 additional prisoners selected by Israel as slated to be released. The list of these prisoners has not been formed yet and no criteria have been set on this matter.”
I don’t really understand this. If I read correctly, 450 of the terrorists are being released not as a gesture but as “an incident of bargaining, which can be seen as an ongoing terror attack,”and hence Israel is trying to reach the lowest possible price. While the remaining 530 are being released as a gesture, the implication being that for them, Israel is not concerned about reaching the lowest possible price.
Or am I just tired?
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
8:05PM: This next story is already a week old, but it completely slipped past me and perhaps many of you.
English Premier League club Portsmouth recently announced they had hired Israeli Avram Grant as their football director. They had also expressed an interest in recruiting an Egyptian player.
Do you see where this is heading?
The recent high tension between Egypt and Algeria has taken another ugly dimension after Egypt international striker, Amr Zaki, declared he will not be interested in joining English Premier League club Portsmouth because that would mean he will play alongside Algerian defender Nadir Belhadj.
UAE businessman Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who has stake at Portsmouth, disclosed that the former Wigan Athletic striker has been in regular touch with him in respect of a transfer to Fratton Park in the winter.
However, Zaki said on his personal website that a switch from Zamalek to Pompey is no longer an option because they have an Algerian player as well as Isrealis, who many Arab Muslims are against, on their books.
“I refused their offer before, but now joining Portsmouth is no longer an option for me,” Zaki said.
“After Portsmouth signed an Israeli player and also hired an Israeli football director (Avram Grant), a possible move was ruled out.
(hat tip: Shire Network News)
5:52PM: Introducing the top ten developed-in-Israel gadgets.
Crafty Zionists, aren’t we?
10:25AM: Join in on the Barghouti pop fun here (I have been contributing quite heavily to this worthy endeavor).
And while you’re at it, you can follow me if you want to expand your Israellycool experience – I am posting increasingly on Twitter, especially when I have something short and snappy to say, and not just posting links to my posts.
6:04AM: Ma’an News reports:
A Greek delegation of veteran footballers and musicians left the occupied Palestinian territories on Saturday evening, following a week of events and visits organized by the Greek organization Struggle Until Victory Forever.
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The Greek delegation toured Palestinian refugee camps and the Israeli Separation Wall, in addition to late President Yasser Arafat’s grave in Ramallah, where they placed flowers.
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Ma’an: Please tell us more about the Struggle Until Victory Forever organization?
Pavlides: Struggle Until Victory Forever is a Greek organization with 150 members, including athletes, artists and engineers. The organization’s name was taken from a quote by the late leader Ernesto Che Guevara.
They sound like real peace-loving folks.
