Resheq: Report on Mishaal-Olmert contacts sheer lies

Political bureau member of Hamas Ezzet Al-Resheq has described as “sheer lies” the Israeli TV Channel 10 report on Wednesday night that Hamas leader Khaled Mishaal had made contacts with Israeli premier Ehud Olmert in 2006.

Resheq said in a press release on Thursday that the news report was not more than blatant fabrication and “Zionist dreams”.

“Such lies aim at smearing the image of Hamas and its leader,” he said, adding that the report does not deceive anyone.

The TV report claimed that Olmert turned down a request by Hamas in 2006 to end the dispute between the two parties and to release captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit in return for the freedom of dozens of Palestinian prisoners.

For his part, Olmert, the former premier, categorically denied opening a secret channel with Hamas leader Mishaal in a statement on Thursday to the Israeli radio.