Yediot Ahranot ran a piece today by Ilan Hamra, an expert at analyzing voice recordings. It’s an interesting window into how tapes, like the one Hamas just released of Gilad Shalit, are analyzed.
It is clear that the statements made by Gilad Shalit were dictated by the people holding him. The recording was edited in at least three spots. In other words, the recording was made in segments and only subsequently were they spliced together.
The word, mujahadeen, was uttered in an inquisitive tone of questioning. Gilad was asking the person who was with him whether he had pronounced the word correctly. Later, one can hear on the tape words that are uttered by the person who is sitting opposite Gilad: “now (look) at me,” in the context of turning his face to the camera. The conclusion I draw is that the recording was also filmed, but Hamas chose to distribute only the audio recording.
At the end of the recording, after the words “Corporal Gilad Shalit,” we hear—supposedly from the mouth of Gilad—the question: “did you record?” But that is a mistaken impression. Actually, it is another person who says the words “100 percent.”
The syntax of the statement clearly shows that it was translated from Arabic into Hebrew by Hamas men, and they asked Gilad to read it. For instance, by adding a “the” before Corporal Gilad Shalit” in the way one would add an “el” in Arabic
The recording was made in a windowless room, in a place that is nearly completely soundproof, with the exception of the sound of a plane that passed overhead during the filming.
Hamas may have decided only to release the audio version of Shalit’s statement because of its experience in 1994 when it released a video of kidnapped soldier Nachson Wachsman. The Israeli army discoverd Wachsman’s whereabouts and raided the hideout, though not before Hamas had killed Wachsman. Hamas, apparently in error, concluded the video tape gave away their hideout.
6 responses so far ↓
1 Duncan McFarlane // Jun 26, 2007 at 11:56 pm
Isn’t it the Qassam Brigades who are holding Shalit? They are (or were) the military wing of Hamas ?
I had read some reports that the Qassam Brigades have said that Hamas’ political leadership are traitors for going into coalition with Fatah ? (before the continued sanctions killed that coalition and caused another civil war)
I’m not sure whether this is true of all the Qassam Brigades or whether it allows Hamas plausible deniability for armed forces they do still control or if they’re genuinely out of the control of the Hamas leadership now.
The last does seem like a possibility though since Israel, the EU and the US seem to have refused to allow Hamas the democratic road to power after their election victory ?
2 Benjamin // Jun 27, 2007 at 1:01 pm
My understanding is that Hamas’ “political” leadership is itself divided. I guess guys like Mahmud al-Zahar and Sayed Siyam, known as hardliners and formerly in the first Hamas government, are even more closer to the “military” wing as their stated objective when they were kicked out the coalition government was to provoke its collapse (and they succeeded). Thus, there is a deep division between them and Ismail Haniyeh - what I don’t know is how much support Haniyeh enjoys in Hamas ranks. I am also wondering what Meshaal’s position and more widely those of the exiled leadership are. Charles - it woud be worth a article.
3 Charles Levinson // Jun 27, 2007 at 1:34 pm
Benjamin- you bring excellent oft-debated points. Zahar and Siyam are definitely considered to be in Hamas’ hardline camp, and were widely viewed as being among the chief architects of Hamas’ takeover in Gaza.
In general, the exiled leadership is seen as more ideological and hardline than the internal leadership. The Hamas leadership inside Gaza and the West Bank has to deal with serving the needs of their constituents which generally demands more pragmatism and flexibility.
The exiled leadership in Damascus, meanwhile, must contend far more with pressure from Syria and Iran both of whom obviously push the movement in a more uncompromising direction.
4 Steve M // Jun 27, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Charles, what is your view of the appointment of Tony Blair as Middle East Peace Envoy for the Quartet?
In pushing forward the policies of the Quartet, will he have the necessary respect of the parties involved, particularly on the Palestinian side?
5 Steve M // Jun 27, 2007 at 5:18 pm
Incidentally, in the Ilan Hamra piece above, does he deduce that the recording was made in a windowless room by its acoustics alone?
(an interesting window into how tapes — are analyzed, indeed)
6 TAFKAS // Jun 28, 2007 at 4:47 am
Steve M, before the release of the audio Hamas sources reported: http://www.imemc.org/article/49137
Underground … Windowless … Thank you for that information.
But on the other hand: You have not to simulate thousands of possibilities:. With the information of Hamas AND the PLANE, you can prove the information of Hamas. [I don’t know.. comercial fligths over Gaza??? The Israelis should know very well what plane and what time…] Example http://shual.blogspot.com/2007/06/windows.html
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