Hamas leader blames Israel for failure to close deal on Gilad Schalit.
By ASSOCIATED PRESSmashaal great top NEW 298 ap(photo credit: )
The leader of Hamas has vowed to capture more Israeli soldiers to use in bargaining for the release of Palestinian prisoners.Khaled Mashaal accused Israel of obstructing a deal to trade captured soldier Gilad Schalit for hundreds of jailed terrorists.Gaza militants captured Schalit in a 2006 cross-border raid. A dealbrokered by Egypt and Germany for his release had appeared close inNovember.The exiled Mashaal also said America's insistence that Hamas recognizeIsrael was to blame for the failure of talks to reconcile the Gazamilitants with their moderate Palestinian rivals in the West Bank. Thesplit has complicated peace efforts.Mashaal spoke Monday at a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria.
