Hamas warns against Schalit rescue op

Group's military wing: It would only up ante for his release; Barak: We're doing utmost to get him back.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
ehud barak 224.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
ehud barak 224.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Hamas warned Israel on Saturday against conducting any military operation to try to rescue kidnapped IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit, saying that such a move would only endanger the captive's life. "If Israel chooses this option, it would up the ante for Schalit's release," Abu Obeida, spokesman of the Hamas military wing, Izzadin Kassam said, adding that "[Defense Minister Ehud] Barak is not capable of [conducting such an operation], especially not now, with a transition government." Earlier, Barak had said that Israel was continuing to do its utmost to secure the Schalit's release, even during the current transition period before general elections in February. "The transition government doesn't need to stop [the negotiations] for Gilad Schalit, and we will push for that," he said while attending a cultural event in Tel Aviv. "Like when I led soldiers and gave them orders, I understand the depth of responsibility to return Gilad Schalit home, alive," Barak continued. "There isn't a day that passes that I don't deal with it." "I suggest not getting caught up in an immature situation where we say that we need to bring him back tomorrow," he warned. "Every time that Hamas gets a clue about [Schalit's] importance to us, they goad us and that causes delays. "We'll have to make very tough decisions," Barak said. "And some of the public will have butterflies in their stomachs when the prisoner list needed [for his release] is revealed. I will not flinch, like I didn't flinch when we returned [kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev]." "We will continue, and we will do everything possible in order to bring him home, but it won't be easy," the defense minister said.