Mashaal: Shalit being treated with kid gloves

[oberliner]

"If Israel withdraws from the territories, acknowledges Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital and recognizes our people's right of return, we will agree to a ceasefire of at least 10 years," Hamas' political leader Khaled Mashaal in an interview to Italian magazine Panorama, published Friday.

In the interview, Mashaal leveled criticism as both Israel and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. "Israel depends on us for its political survival. The problem is that it currently receives help from some of our brothers, who support it with their silence," he stated.

The Hamas leader also stressed that kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was "alive, well and being treated with kid gloves."

About two weeks, after Israel stepped up its response to the rocket fire from Gaza, Mashaal threatened that Shalit "will not see the light of day" until all of Hamas' prisoners are released.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3501507,00.html

The leader of Hamas is saying here that even if Israel was to withdraw from the Occupied Territories, acknowledge Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital, and recognize Palestinian right of return, that would only result in a temporary cease fire.

Why would that not mean the end of the conflct in the eyes of Hamas?

What are their goals beyond those points?

[bemildred]

1. Hamas' goals are perfectly clear, the end of the present Israeli state.

On the other hand, when you have a pernicious stalemate of the sort present now, a peace of "more than ten years" is as good as it gets. But the conditions set by Hamas will not be met, so it is somewhat moot what would happen if they were met. On the other hand, if you treat it as a negotiating position, which it is, you get a cessation or reduction in violence while making no concessions at all, other than admitting the obvious facts of the situation. The problem lies with Israeli internal politics, which is riddled with loons. The last PM that wanted to make peace got shot for his pains. It is interesting to wonder whether the Hamas leadership would face similar issues if they sat down to talk with Israel, i.e. having adamant Palestinian loons set out to do them in.

[Vegasaurus]

2. And why would Israel, in its right mind

agree to a "ten year ceasefire" (even if Hamas could achieve this, which they haven't been able to maintain for even a day)?