MR Prediction: Olmert Doesn't Have The Political Capital To Meet Hamas's Terms, Pull Off The Shalit Deal
Are we crazy, or is this way beyond the ability of a Prime Minister hovering at single digits? There's no way Olmert gets the cabinet to let all of these genocidal lunatics out of jail. And if that's the case, then hasn't Hamas just indefinitely tubed a prisoner swap by leaking the full list, because now anything less seems like a compromise?
Also listed was Fuad Shubaki, the Yasser Arafat aide who was responsible for financing the Karine A arms-smuggling ship... the website names senior West Bank Hamas official Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a Palestinian member of parliament. The list further names Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader Ahmed Saadat... and Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti
At most, he can get Marwan Barghouti out. Barghouti is kind of affable, kind of sort of moderate, and speaks Hebrew better than you do. For one reason or anther, Israelis think they can deal with him. But:
Abdullah Barghouti is not getting out of jail any time soon.
Salameh is not getting out of jail any time soon.
Saadat is not getting out of jail any time soon.
Maybe one or the other (we hope not). But all three, plus those other murderers? We just don't see how he pulls it off. Israel Beytenu and Shas will leave the government before that happens - or at least they will if they ever want to get elected ever again. Wouldn't this be Avigdor Lieberman's big moment to draw a right-wing line in the sand?
Or maybe we're wrong, and maybe Israel has given up on beating Hamas and Fatah terrorists.
References:
* PMO: Israel 'disappointed' by list for prisoner swap
Previously:
* So This Is What Hamas Means By "Respecting Past Agreements" (Bonus: AP's Ibrahim Barzak Whitewashing Palestinian Terrorism Again?)
* AQ Complains That Hamas Is Not Insane Enough
* Hamas Has A Trained and Armed Military of 7,500 Troops
