Dr. Ahmed Yousef, a senior advisor to Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyah released a statement on Monday that following the appointment of Chaggai Hadas, talks with Israel for the release of Gilad Shalit may resume where they left off, stating if the Israelis insist on starting at the beginning, no agreement will be reached.

Yousef stated Hamas in anxious to resume talks, but from the ending point of Hadas’ predecessor, Ofir Dekel, stating the terror organization is unwilling to begin anew.

The senior Hamas official added “the ball is in Israel’s court” regarding the pace of progress in talks, adding it will not take long to evaluate just how serious the new administration is towards reaching a mutually agreeable formula.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)