Thursday, December 20, 2007

And This is a Professional Reporter?

Officials in the Israeli prime minister’s office reacted coolly on Wednesday to an indirect approach by the Hamas leader in Gaza offering talks on a truce.

The offer was relayed through an Israeli reporter, Sleman al-Shafhe, of Channel 2 television. On a news broadcast on Tuesday night, Mr. Shafhe said Ismail Haniya, the leader of the Hamas government in Gaza, had called him earlier in the day to convey a message to the Israelis.

According to Mr. Shafhe, Mr. Haniya said he had the ability to stop the rocket fire directed at Israel from Gaza, on condition that Israel stopped the killing of Palestinians there and lifted the blockade of Gaza.

...Mr. Haniya’s conversation with Mr. Shafhe was not recorded, but a Hamas government spokesman in Gaza, Taher Nunu, confirmed that Mr. Haniya had spoken about a truce.


Source

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