Ben Eliezer: Schalit an asset for Hamas, they won't harm him

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Hamas will not follow through with its threat to harm captured IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Schalit because Schalit is its only bargaining chip against Israel, MK Binyamin Ben Eliezer (Labor) said Thursday following a Hamas threat that Schalit would become Israel's new Ron Arad. "The main asset in the hands of Hamas today is Gilad Schalit. We should treat what [Hamas] said with skepticism," Eliezer, a former defense minister who is currently a member of the security cabinet, told Army Radio. "Today, Hamas has a major interest in keeping Gilad safe. As far as they are concerned, he is the only asset they hold against Israel."