Sources in organization quoted as saying Cairo has "failed miserably" and is biased in Israel's favor.
By JPOST.COM STAFFOfer Dekel 224 88(photo credit: Channel 10)
Hamas has begun taking concrete steps towards finding a new mediator to replace the Egyptians in negotiations for kidnapped IDF soldier St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit, according to sources quoted by the London-based Arabic daily Al-Quds Al-Arabi Thursday.
The report stated that statements made by senior Hamas figures to the effect that they were committed to Egypt's role in the talks were no more than a "cover" to divert attention from the steps taken recently by the organization's leadership.
"Hamas is of the opinion that Egypt has failed miserably in its attempts to make any kind of headway in the affair, and is now biased in favor of the Israelis," the sources were quoted as saying.
Israel, they said, was also interested in replacing Egypt but would not act on the matter due to the possible impact such a move could have on its relationship with Cairo.
They said that Israel's envoy in the negotiations, Ofer Dekel, was considering the possibility of giving Egypt a "ceremonial role" in the talks while letting another party step in as de facto mediator.
The Jerusalem Post could not confirm the report.
In July, in the aftermath of the prisoner swap between Israel and Hizbullah, there were calls in Hamas to replace the Egyptian mediators with German intermediaries in the talks.
Several Hamas officials expressed deep disappointment with the way the Egyptians had been handling the Schalit mediation effort.
"The Egyptians have proven that they are unable to put enough pressure on Israel to accept our demands," one Hamas official reportedly said.
Another Hamas official said his movement was under the impression that the Egyptians "were on Israel's side more than on our side."
"We were expecting our Egyptian brothers to represent the interests of all Arabs in the talks over Schalit. But the Egyptians don't seem to care about us," he said.
Hamas is also upset with the Egyptians for failing to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Sinai and Gaza in the wake of the cease-fire agreement reached with Israel last month.
Khaled Abu Toameh contributed to this report
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