Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Islamic terrorist group, Hamas, of using the issue of captured Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) Soldier Gilad Schalit as a bargaining chip to force the Jewish nation to reopen the Rafah border crossing, media reports said.
Hamas was trying to get the crossing reopened, not because it wanted to serve the interests of the Palestinians, but rather to get legitimacy, he said adding that Cairo would not give legitimacy to a group that doesn't deserve it.
"We cannot give legitimacy to a group that forcefully wrested the leadership from the Palestinian Authority in Gaza," he said.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri responded by saying that the Schalit issue was being dealt with by Egyptian Intelligence, not the Foreign Ministry, adding, "Thank God, we are not working with Ahmed Aboul Gheit."
Meanwhile, it was reported that Amos Gilad, head of Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry's Diplomatic-Security Bureau, notified Egypt that Israel has agreed to release all Hamas prisoners in exchange for abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit.
The Saudi official had traveled to Cairo last week to ensure the number of prisoners demanded by Hamas did not grow. Israel would authorize the release of 450 prisoners from the Hamas's list of demands once a new government is formed. Thereafter, Israel would free 550 more of its choice.
However, the Saudi official has denied the report.
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