The US government wanted to remove Hamas from the Iranian/Syrian camp and place it in the Egypt/Muslim Brotherhood camp. Was achieving their goal contingent in getting Israel to accept the release of 1000 terrorists, or would it have taken place regardless, If the latter, it was a window of opportunity. If the former, Bibi was forced into accepting the deal.
By the way Bibi had to agree not to pursue or kill these terrorists after their release. Of course Hamas was not asked to agree not to use these people to commit more terrorist attacks or not to take new hostages.
Finally is the deal to undercut Iran and embrace Hamas and the MB good for Israel. It suggests to me that this is part of the US attempt to produce a “peace” agreement including Hamas and Bibi is complicit.
Ted Belman
DEBKAfile Special Report
[..]
Those clauses, negotiated directly between Panetta and Hamas’ political chief Khaled Meshaal, entailed the shutting down of Hamas headquarters in Damascus in order to undercut Syrian President Bashar Assad, Iran and Hizballah and loosen their hold on the Palestinians. Meshaal who visited Tehran a week ago agreed to gradually downgrade his ties with Iran in return for American patronage of Hamas.
Netanyahu told the Israeli ministers that he had faced a tough dilemma between rescuing the Israeli soldier and national security and a balance was hard to strike. But his commitment to saving Gilad Shalit was absolute. The “window of opportunity” presented now may never recur, he warned, given the turbulence besetting the Middle East. He therefore asked the ministers for their unanimous endorsement of the swap.
That window, debkafile reports, was the deal the Obama administration had reached with Hamas leaders and their parent, the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s rift with Tehran.
The Prime Minister thanked the Egyptian government and intelligence agencies for their great contribution toward brokering the deal. He also voiced appreciation for the efforts of the German mediator and Chancellor Angela Merkel who gave the process her wholehearted support.
[..]
As to the backdoor diplomacy leading to Gilad Shalit’s release, debkafile further discloses that recognizing the rising electoral strength of the Muslim Brotherhood and its Salafi allies in Egypt’s forthcoming parliamentary elections next month, the Obama administration entered into active dialogue with its leaders to draw them away from Tehran and bring them close to the ruling military junta and Washington.
Shortly before Panetta arrived in the Middle East, a US diplomat revealed that US officials had arrived in Cairo on Oct. 2 for talks with Brotherhood representatives. The American side was headed by Prem. G. Kumar, the National Security Council Director for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs at the White House.
This was the first clue that the White House was after a deal not only with the Brotherhood but also its Palestinian offshoot Hamas, part of which was to be the release of the Israeli soldier.
Two days later, on Oct. 4, the US Defense Secretary arrived to seal the accord while in another part of Cairo, the Israeli prime minister’s personal representative David Meidan and the commander of Hamas’ military wing, Ezz a-din al Qassam, Mohammed Jabry, hammered out the minutiae of the prisoner exchange for Shalit’s release.
Netanyahu referred to the heavy price Israel was paying in terms of security by letting a thousand terrorists walk free – scores much Israeli blood on their hands. But he also paid a heavy political price: Israel’s acceptance of the United States’ rapprochement with the Egyptian Muslim brothers – henceforth dubbed in Obama administration parlance a “moderate Muslim force.”
Israelcan only hope that this gamble pays off.
By procuring the release of 1,000 Palestinians from Israeli jails, Hamas has outperformed is rival, the Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as the lead champion of the Palestinian cause. After defying the Obama administration by applying for UN recognition for Palestinian statehood, Abbas is now getting his punishment.
A condition for BB signing the Wye agreement was that Pollard be pardoned and return with BB to ameliorate his image for his perfidy of caving in to Clinton and betraying his support base at home. Clinton betrayed BB and would’t pardon Pollard. BB returned home to a very pissed off constituency which dumped him in short order.
Everything is done here for internal politics. Name of the game is keeping their seats of power. To that end all is permissible and possible by our politicians, they have no G-d, no morality and no scruples, in other words they stink.
Shalit it seems fits with BB’s past MO. He is about to do something that will endanger his seat of power whether it is Iran or giving up Y & S to the Arabs like in Yamit or Gush Katif and needs to distract attention and enhance his current falling popularity. Whatever he plans to do should be not too distant in the future otherwise any benefit he may have gained from Shalit will be old news and no help to him. Watch his moves in the next few weeks.
List of prisoners to be released includes notorious terrorists http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=1457
Names of prisoners posted on Israel Prison Service website, including the destinations for release • Terrorists involved in Sbarro, Cafe Moment suicide bombings, perpetrators of Ramallah lynch, and murderers of Nachshon Wachsman.
Itsik Saban, Shlomo Cesana and Israel Hayom Staff
The names of some of the most notorious terrorists in Israeli history, including the masterminds of several suicide bombings and kidnappings, appeared on the Israel Prison Service’s official list of 1,027 security prisoners set to be released in exchange for Staff Sgt. Gilad Shalit, who has been held in Hamas captivity for more than five years.
Shalit is set to be returned to Israel on Tuesday as part of the first phase of the prisoner exchange, which will see 450 male prisoners and 27 female prisoners released from Israeli jails. Their names and destinations following their release are also detailed on the prison service website.
Most of the prisoners on the list are set to be transferred on Sunday to the Ketziot Prison, near Israel’s southern border with Egypt. A small group of male prisoners and the list’s female prisoners will be gathered first at Sharon Prison north of Tel Aviv. All will go through rigorous security screenings and medical examinations before they are released.
On Sunday, Israel Prison Service Commissioner Aharon Franco assembled a group of defense establishment officials and prison service wardens and gave the initial orders for the 477 prisoners’ release.
The Israel Prison Service website provided detailed information as to where each released prisoner was headed after leaving jail. Prisoners numbered 1-131 will return to their homes in Gaza and 132-186 will return to their homes in Judea and Samaria or east Jerusalem. Prisoners 187-241 will also return to their homes, but they are subject to special restrictions on their movement. Prisoners 242-281 will be sent abroad; prisoners 282-299 will be sent to Gaza for three years only and prisoners 300-444 will be sent to Gaza permanently. A select number, prisoners 445-450, will return to their homes in Israel.
Female prisoners, 451-477, will return to their homes, excluding 473, Ahlam al-Tamimi, who was one of the masterminds of the 2001 Sbarro pizzeria bombing in Jerusalem will be sent to Jordan, and 474, and Muna Amna who lured a 16-year-old boy from Ashkelon to Ramallah, where he was then murdered by two Fatah terrorists.
Following the publication of the list of names, Prison Service commanders notified prisoners of their impending releases on Sunday morning. For the next two days, before the set handover on Tuesday, general preparations will take place for identifying the prisoners, performing medical examinations and gearing up for the transfer.
King and other right-wing activists plan to display photographs of the released Jerusalem prisoners and distribute them with the words “Warning: Murderer.”
A picture of BB should be posted on every billboard “Saying complicit of Murder of Jews past and future” “Terrotists should be fought and Killed not supported and released”
The Rule of Law and Justice in Israel is non existent, as seen above a meaningless concept.
Excellent question.
Neither the Israeli government or the American government want pollard free, so he will probably die in prison. Maybe if Peres dies before him there is a chance.
HISTORIC ‘SURGE’ EXERCISES C-5 CRISIS, CONTINGENCY RESPONSE
US Fed News
October 14, 2011
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill., Oct. 14 — Robins Air Force Base issued the following news release:
Big US airlift drill starts Monday. Fresh Hamas demands for Gilad Shalit
Posted October 16, 2011 by josephwouk
The United States launches a large-scale exercise over the Middle East deploying 41 giant transports of the 22nds Airlift Squadron Monday Oct. 17, the day before the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is scheduled to be released by Hamas. The US Transportation Command and its Air Forces Transportation will be testing its ability to provide a rapid strategic airlift response to major crises and contingencies.
Tuesday morning, when the Israel and Hamas prisoner exchange is due to be executed, the giant US transports will drill landings in Israel and Saudi Arabia. The aircraft will be packed with command and control elements and fighting units with full equipment.
debkafile‘s military sources report that during this critical week, the exercise ending Friday, Oct. 21 will keep an American air fleet in Middle East skies ready to land at any moment for any contingency. The Israeli, Egyptian and Saudi armies are on a high state of preparedness.
In parallel, The USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier is on its way from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean. Last Tuesday Oct. 11, as the US officials accused the Iranian government of directing a plot to assassination the Saudi ambassador to Washington, the Stennis was nearing the Red Sea.
Aboard was the Chief of US Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert who was assigned to the operation in this arena shortly after taking up his appointment.
The missions of the Stennis Battle Group, consisting of an additional seven warships, most of them destroyers and frigates, as well as Air Wing CVW-9, are to provide ground troops with combat support and strike land and sea targets. It is also able to sow mines over large areas around coastal regions and on the high sea.
Sunday, Oct. 16, US intelligence sources warned that the operation for the Israeli soldier’s recovery from Hamas captivity (paid for by 1,027 jailed Palestinian terrorists) could touch off a spate of terrorist attacks in the region, most likely aimed at US embassies and Israel targets in and outside the country.
A senior US source noted that Iran, Hizballah and Syria might try and disrupt the exchange while it is in progress.
Tehran was furious with Washington for fingering Gholam Shakouri as one of the masterminds of the foiled assassination attempt. Shakouri is Deputy Chief of the Revolutionary Guards’ Al Qods Brigades.
Iran, Syria and Hizballah all, furthermore, own an interest in thwarting the transfer of Hamas’ political headquarters from Damascus to Cairo which was assured in a secret provision of the prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas that was brokered by the US and Egypt.
Oct. 12, the day after the Shalit deal came to light, debkafile‘s military sources first drew attention to the danger of the three allies activating their undercover agents in the Gaza Strip to stymie the exchange.
On Oct. 14, the same warning was issued by the German spy agency’s director Erns Uhrlau.
Sunday, circles in the IDF and Israel Defense Ministry voiced concern about the difficulties still to be overcome before Tuesday arrives. And indeed, that morning, Cairo sources reported hitches in finalizing the transfer arrangements which the prime minister’s emissary David Maidan is managing for the Israeli side in Cairo. Those sources reported that Hamas representatives had raised fresh demands over and above the provisions of the prisoner swap accord they signed last week. They sought now to add more Palestinian female prisoners to the 27 agreed; they also wanted to delay the deportation of 40 hard-core terrorists to host countries and demanded that they stay in Egypt before their transfer.
Western sources report that Hamas has yet to ask any foreign country to receive them.
There is much truth in what you say.
Firstly, Re Shalit’s release, lets face it, it is not about Shalit, but the release of terrorists, and US manipulation.
And secondly, if Obama needed Israelicooperation to distance Hamas from Iran/Syria, why didn’t Netanyahu ask for Pollalrd’s release after 26 years!!!
Why is Pollard Hefker, why is his life less important that Shalit’s? And be there no mistake, i root for Shalit and family, but one life is as important as another.
Pollard scarified his life voluntarily, as opposed to Shalit, who fell victim not by choice.
I will never be able to figure out the action of the GOI.
The U.S. will continue to use Israel as a pawn until Israel – regardless – says NO MORE. This will also aquire vocal output from Jews and their supporters AROUND THE WORLD. That will put some pressure on BOTH Israel and the U.S. Depending on a person’s personal circumstances (i.e. limiting death threats to Jews) this can be achieved in many ways. Behind the scenes with letters, phone calls, emails. Depending on where you live, rally support where you can. ie local politicians, law enforcement. This is likened to mental and emotional blackmail of Jews both inside and outside of Israel. Another form of holocaust planning. Hey. we can convince the Jews to destroy themselves!! DON’T LET THEM DO THAT TO US!! Be creative. Israel WILL survive as a JEWISH STATE. ASSUME IT! BELIEVE IT! THEN HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN!
The USA politicos really cannot force Israel to do anything, [Barack Obama is personally weak and politically weak too] the idea that they can is a popular misconception–Israeli politicians are usually all too willing to do what is wrong for Israel and this is nothing new.
I have yet to hear of any confirmation that Shalit is still alive. Might it be that only his body will be returned to his family as part of the “exchange?” No International Red Cross officials have yet to report on his health and condition.
Can someone explain this logic to me? How can the life of one soldier be in the way of a war with Iran where many more Israelis would be expected to die in any scenario of armed conflict with Iran?
Yamit. thank you for your great research.
Iranian Supreme Council for Cultural Revolution Member Hassam Rahimpour Azghadi Calls on Iranians to Conduct Sabotage Operations in ‘The Heart of Europe’ and Worldwide
MEMRI TV
Breaking the Shalit impasse was part of a bigger US picture
Obama Opens Two Fronts against Tehran
Posted October 14, 2011 by josephwouk
US Sets the Scene for Regional Military Action against Iran/…New Obama policy to back regional military strikes against Iran
Obama’s opening to the Muslim Brotherhood is jumped forward
‘Egypt intercepts Libyan surface-to-air missiles in Sinai’
By JPOST.COM STAFF
10/14/2011 11:12
Weapons smuggling has boosted the black market in Sinai; Egyptian source says Palestinian in Gaza struck a deal with Libyan rebels.
Egypt security officers said they intercepted surface-to-air missiles smuggled from Libya through the Sinai peninsula, the Washington Post reported, a day after Egypt reportedly flew fighter jets over certain areas of Sinai without requisite permission from Israel.
Sources: US Gives Israel Green Light For Iran Strike
Paul Joseph Watson
Fabricated terror plot provides pretext for intervention following Panetta’s October 3 Tel Aviv visit
The Obama administration’s fabricated terror plot blamed on Iran represents the green light for an Israeli attack on Iran set to take place within the next two weeks, according to confidential military sources who spoke with Alex Jones.
US Wants Israel to Tackle Iran at Sea
DEBKA.
Netanyahu Hangs Back from Striking Iranian Red Sea Warships