$50 million Ransom Paid; To Keep Israeli Captive!

[jbg]

Doesn't mass media see the irony here? Most of Iran's people live in poverty and are Shi'ites.

The country is willing to fork over $50 million to the Sunni group Hamas, to abort a prisoner release? Go figure. Excerpts below

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Iran Paid To Stop Captive's Release, Israeli Tells U.N.

BY BENNY AVNI - Staff Reporter of the Sun

October 20, 2006

URL: http://www.nysun.com/article/41968

UNITED NATIONS — Iran has paid Hamas $50 million to prevent a deal to release a kidnapped Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, Israel's ambassador said here yesterday.

Dan Gillerman did not disclose his sources, but told The New York Sun that based on "reliable" sources the Israeli government believes Tehran has paid the money to the Damascus-based Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, to stop a deal to release Mr. Shalit.

Addressing the Security Council during a periodic discussion on the Middle East yesterday, Mr. Gillerman referred to a report yesterday in Israel's Yediot Ahronot, saying Tehran paid $50 million to Mr. Meshaal, "to sabotage the negotiations on the release of Corporal Gilad Shalit and prevent his release."

*snip*

The Israeli press reported this week that negotiations under Egyptian mediators to release Mr. Shalit, 20, in exchange for several Palestinian Arabs who have been convicted and jailed in Israel, have "collapsed."

Iranian U.N. envoy Mansour Sadeghi said he "rejected" the "baseless and absurd" allegations made by Mr. Gillerman, which he said were meant to deflect Israel's "crimes" in the region.

Meanwhile, the commander of the U.N. force charged with preserving the lull in fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, Major General Alain Pelligrini, said yesterday that his troops "could" use force to prevent Israel's air force from patrolling over Lebanon.

*snip*

On Sunday, El Pais reported from the southern Lebanese town of Taibe that Spanish UNIFIL troops have encountered "armed members of Hezbollah who were uniformed" near the town of Marjayoun.The Spanish troops advised the Lebanese army of the encounter, but after checking it the next day the army dismissed the Spanish account.

UNIFIL spokesmen later denied the account in the Spanish newspaper's report, as well as similar reports in the Israeli press.

"We have not detected, spotted, any person with illegal weapons" in the area between the Litani River and the Lebanese-Israeli border, where the only weapons permitted under resolution 1701 are those carried by the Lebanese army or UNIFIL, General Pelligrini said yesterday during a Turtle Bay press conference.

[sharkman]

Wow, this reveals the true depths to which Iran will go to hate Jews. I'm sure all those on this forum who think Israel is to blame and Iran is just defending their rights will straightaway come to their senses. Hah! Expect more Israel bashing to ensue.

[Figleaf]

...

UNITED NATIONS — Iran has paid Hamas $50 million to prevent a deal to release a kidnapped Israeli soldier, Corporal Gilad Shalit, Israel's ambassador said here yesterday.

... did not disclose his sources,...based on "reliable" sources the Israeli government believes Tehran has paid the money to the Damascus-based Hamas leader, Khaled Meshaal, to stop a deal to release Mr. Shalit.

This has about as much credibility as Colin Powell's Iraq WMD presentation a few years back. I.e. inadequate.

[jbg]

Wow, this reveals the true depths to which Iran will go to hate Jews. I'm sure all those on this forum who think Israel is to blame and Iran is just defending their rights will straightaway come to their senses. Hah! Expect more Israel bashing to ensue.

It shows how little constructive activity that part of the world (except Israel) is capable of. I'm sure $50,000,000's best use is not to keep an Israeli soldier captive while Iran's people remain in poverty.