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The exiled leader of Hamas said Wednesday that Israel's conditions for a long-term truce with the group were "unacceptable."Khaled Mashaal said Hamas would not accept that Israel open the Gaza border crossings only after Hamas releases captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.Mashaal spoke from Doha, Qatar, where he is visiting to thank Qatar for its solidarity with Gazans during Operation Cast Lead 22-day offensive to rout out Hamas rockets. His remarks were aired on Al-Jazeera satellite television.Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said earlier Wednesday that crossings with Gaza "will only open permanently" after the freeing Schalit. Mashaal reiterated that Hamas insists thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails be released in return for Schalit, and the group has dismissed any linkage between Schalit and the reopening of crossings.A Hamas delegation had met Mashaal in Qatar to discuss the Egyptian truce proposal, which, Channel 2 said, had been agreed upon by Israel.According to the television channel, the Egyptian draft stated that in the first stage of the truce agreement, Gaza hostilities would cease on both sides from February 5, border crossings would be secured and a 500-meter buffer zone would be implemented in the Strip to stop anyone approaching the border fence. In the second stage, crossings would be opened and activity at the terminals would start at a 70-percent capacity. After a month, Egypt would open the Rafah border crossing, on condition that a Fatah-Hamas unity government is in place, Schalit would be freed and crossings would then be opened fully.By JPOST.COM STAFF AND AP
As in the days of Noah....
