Egyptian FM: Hamas using Schalit as bargaining chip to open Rafah crossing

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Hamas of using the issue of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit as a bargaining chip to secure the opening of the Rafah border crossing. In an interview with BBC Arabic, Gheit said that Hamas was trying to get the crossing reopened, not because it wanted to serve the interests of the Palestinian people, but rather to get legitimacy, adding that Egypt would not give legitimacy to a group that doesn't deserve it. "We cannot give legitimacy to a group that stole the leadership from the Palestinian Authority in Gaza," he said. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri responded by saying that the Schalit issue was being dealt with by Egyptian Intelligence, not the Foreign Ministry, adding, "Thank God, we are not working with Ahmed Aboul Gheit."