Hamas chief admits: 'We'll nab more Jews'

Israeli troops on Gaza border

JERUSALEM – The chief of Hamas in the Gaza Strip stated in an interview the exchange of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for one Israeli soldier emboldens his group to kidnap more Israelis to extract further concessions from the Jewish state.

In an interview on "Aaron Klein Investigative Radio" on New York's WABC Radio, Mahmoud al-Zahar was asked whether the exchange demonstrates value in nabbing Israeli soldiers.

The Hamas chieftain replied: "Then Palestinian Authority in Ramallah negotiated for many years and they failed to release anybody. Now by the kidnapping (of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit) and the release, the Palestinian people succeeded to set free this number (of prisoners) by this way."

He continued, "I think it's good for the Israelis to think thoroughly solve the problem smoothly and not to give a chance for the repetition of this event. It is wise for the Israelis to schedule the release of the rest of the Palestinians."

The audio of the interview has been posted on Klein's site online.

Israel and Hamas on Sunday finalized an agreement for the release of Shalit, kidnapped by Hamas in 2006, in exchange for the freedom of some 1,027 Palestinian terrorists in Israeli jails.

Yesterday, family members of those killed or injured by the Palestinian terrorists slated for release filed petitions to Israel's Supreme Court asking the judicial system to block the releases, but to no avail.

In a letter sent to bereaved families yesterday, Netanyahu said he knew "the price was very heavy" for relatives of the victims, but said he "was faced with the responsibility of the prime minister of Israel to bring home every soldier who is sent to protect our citizens."