Damascus-based Hamas leader Khaled Meshal announced that without Israeli releasing all the terrorists appearing on the Hamas list, IDF soldier Gilad Shalit will not be released. A policy of �stubbornness� as was seen with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert will not result in Shalit�s release.

In a reference to the United States, the senior terrorist stated Hamas is aware of the steps being taken by US President Barak Obama, calling his statements �a first step towards an unconditional dialogue and we applaud this�.

He stressed that the Hamas leadership was elected in democratic elections and the international community must respect this accordingly.

(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)