Hamas Leader Threatens More Kidnappings

In another move that proves Hamas is not at all interested in building a sustained peace with Israel, Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has threatened to raise the price for the return of Gilad Shalit and even kidnap more Israelis if its demands are not met.

Speaking at a student rally in Damascus, Mashaal made his view very clear:

“Gilad will not be the only one,” Mashaal said. “We will kidnap more soldiers, including officers. We will not free Schalit until [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu gives in to our just demands.

“Israel is responsible for the failure in negotiations,” Mashaal added, saying he had relayed a message to the German mediator: “If you come to the negotiations table again with Netanyahu’s demands – don’t come, stay where you are.”

Labor Party chair and defense minister Ehud Barak hinted that a military option does exist to find and free Gilad Shalit.  Some sources have said that Israel is considering releasing up to 1,000 prisoners on a Hamas list in exchange for Gilad Shalit.  There does get to be a point where we have to ask about the price to free Gilad.

Given that I am not privy to everything that Israel’s leaders know, I reluctantly support a military option as the best way to free Shalit at this point.  And, with all of the crap they have pulled, I think Hamas has it coming.