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Source: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/731622.html
Clock Is Ticking for Talks on Soldier's Release
Amos Harel and Avi Issacharoff (Ha'aretz) - Hamas issued a proclamation on Monday demanding the release of women and teens from Israeli prisons in return for information on the condition of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. But any such deal would provide a boost for additional kidnappings. On the Palestinian side, there has been a major devaluation in Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's standing. PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is no longer depicted as the only weak figure in the PA leadership. Haniyeh also appears devoid of any practical influence over events. He is utterly dependent on operatives of Hamas' military wing, who get their orders from Khaled Mashaal in Damascus.