Arlene Kushner on Latest Developments In Hamas Kidnapping of 3 Israeli Students

From Arlene Kushner:
June 16, 2014

The Struggle Goes On

This is not an uncommon refrain for me these days: This posting must be short because other considerations are pulling at me. I did want to follow through a bit more about the search for the three kidnapped students. But, unfortunately, the very same matter that has my attention today may prevent me from posting again until later in the week. Please God, let there be good news to post!

Gilad Shaar, Naftali Frenkel, and Eyal Yifrach

What we are seeing now is:

Israel is squeezing Hamas in order to force the release of the boys. There have been multiple arrests of Hamas affiliated people – including some significant persons within Hamas - done in the course of the search in the Hevron area. And Israel is considering harsher actions, such as expulsions.

Read more: Israel mulls expulsions, demolitions to press Hamas into freeing teens

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Netanyahu, for the first time in over a year, contacted Abbas and asked him to help with finding the boys.

Read: Netanyahu to Abbas: I expect your help in bringing teens home

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Abbas condemned the kidnapping, but also condemned the actions that Israel is taking against Hamas.

Read: Abbas calls Netanyahu, condemns kidnapping
Read: PA condemns Israel for wide-scale arrest of Hamas and Islamic Jihad members

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In a very strange turn of events, the military arm of Abbas’s Fatah party has claimed “credit” for the kidnapping. They want “thousands” of prisoners released, their announcement says. There would really be huge implications in this, but their claim does not really mean they have the boys. Lots of groups claim lots of things, and Israeli intelligence, which fingers Hamas, is excellent.

Read: Fatah-linked terrorists claim abduction of three teenagers

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See this interesting piece that suggests that Hamas’s action in the kidnapping tore the unity government apart, and Abbas knows it.

Read: In bid for Palestinian street, Hamas gambles all |

© Arlene Kushner. This material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced only with proper attribution.


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Technorati Tag: Israel and Gaza and Hamas.