Hamas Demands 1,000 for Shalit

Israel will have to make “difficult decisions” and will pay a “difficult price” to secure the release of its abducted soldier from Hamas, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said. Barak added that it was Israel’s moral duty to “carry out every appropriate maneuver possible so that Gilad returns home safe and sound.”

Meanwhile, Hamas representatives are playing hard ball. A Hamas source declared in July, “Hamas is exercising its moral and historical responsibility to the Palestinian people and to the prisoners’ families…Despite the ridiculous comments uttered by Israeli leaders regarding their ability to reach the captive in the Strip, I’m telling Noam Shalit—your son will remain forever in the Strip should your government fail to comply with our demands. The ball is in Israel’s court and for long months now we’ve been waiting for a response to our demands, which have not changed.”