Immient deal to release Gilad Shalit, 980 jailed terrorists to be released

[GiladS]

High Court: Government likely to release 980 prisoners in Schalit deal

Israel will likely release 980 Palestinian prisoners as part of a deal for the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, the State Prosecution said

Sunday, in response to a High Court of Justice petition, initiated by bereaved families, as well as the Almagor Terror Victims Association.

The petitioners demanded to have published the criteria by which prisoners would be released in any deal for Schalit.

In response, the government said that in principle about 450 prisoners would be released in an initial stage, and a further 530 prisoners at a later.
The 530 prisoners are to be hand picked by Israel.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1259243033981&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[RoyB]

The 530 prisoners are being released as a gesture to the Palestinian people. Unbelievable, I know.
But we have nothing to be ashamed of.. that's what differentiate us from them.

[frenchy]

The 530 prisoners are being released as a gesture to the Palestinian people. Unbelievable, I know.
But we have nothing to be ashamed of.. that's what differentiate us from them.

Right but if those prisoners will make bad things, you'll regret this.

According to me, this price is too high.
Free one man and take the risk to have more suicide-bombings or gunmen who will shot rockets or who will shoot on soldiers, I don't think it's a good deal..

[GiladS]

Right but if those prisoners will make bad things, you'll regret this.

According to me, this price is too high.
Free one man and take the risk to have more suicide-bombings or gunmen who will shot rockets or who will shoot on soldiers, I don't think it's a good deal..

Any deal wouldn't be a "good deal" because it would entail the release of terrorists.

All we can do is promise the bastards that we are releasing that they should make a fresh start because next time it won't be hard time in prison but a Helfire or a 5.56mm that will be doing the justice.

[RoyB]

If they want to make a policy change they should do it after Gilad is out. For god's sake, he has been in captivity for more than 1253 days now.

[kosse]

According to me, this price is too high.
Free one man and take the risk to have more suicide-bombings or gunmen who will shot rockets or who will shoot on soldiers, I don't think it's a good deal..

Keeping 980 people in western standard prison isn't cheap either. And it doesn't seem that palestinians terrorists lack recruits for their cause so extra 980 fundamentalists propably doesn't change anything. Use the money saved by not letting them live in Israeli hotel (prison) to buy more grenades for next time they try something.

[Laworkerbee]

If these 980 men are truly gunmen and not a mix of petty criminals and such then it seems insane to me to release so many gunmen for one hostage.

Does Israel even have proof of life for Schalit?

[Skutatos]

What ever happened to "Israel does not negotiate with terrorists!" ? Of course that soldier's life is valuable, but even if just one of these 980 prisoners kills an israeli citizen, then what exactly was achieved?

[RoyB]

Does Israel even have proof of life for Schalit?
He's alive.

What ever happened to "Israel does not negotiate with terrorists!" ? Of course that soldier's life is valuable, but even if just one of these 980 prisoners kills an israeli citizen, then what exactly was achieved?
Israel has always negotiated with terrorists.. especially when there were hostages involved. "Israel does not negotiate with terrorists!" never existed.

[GiladS]

Does Israel even have proof of life for Schalit?

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1118449.html

[GiladS]

Release the terrorists

By Hanoch Daum

So how can we release terrorists with blood on their hands? I'm sorry to disappoint you, but Hamas (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/unescape(this.href)) will not be facing a shortage of terrorists even if Israel will never be releasing even one detainee currently held in our jails.


But the swap deal will provide Hamas with a backwind, you say? Well, I don't seem to recall that Fatah (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/unescape(this.href)) won any election campaign in the recent past, so it's difficult to argue that this swap of all things will boost Hamas in an irreversible manner.


And what about a new wave of terrorism to follow the deal, you ask? The only reason that we do not see suicide bombers in Israeli cities has to do with the fact that the State of Israel (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/unescape(this.href)) embarked on Operation Defensive Shield (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/unescape(this.href)) in 2002 and built the security fence.


No good will on the other side of the fence has to do with the quiet here. The Qassam rocket attacks also subsided because of Operation Cast Lead (http://www.ynetnews.com/home/0,7340,L-7022,00.html) and not because of anything else. Once Israel will let up its pressure on Hamas, it will attack us again – with the prisoners to be released in the swap or without them.


So how can we release terrorists with blood on their hands? In my view, we should be asking the opposite question. How could we not release them?


How, in God's name, can these 70 despicable terrorists, who were the focus of most disagreements in the past two years, prevent us from finalizing such a significant deal; a deal that would prompt unforgettable national catharsis of goodness and light, and that would also wash away some of the bitter disappointment we experienced over the Ron Arad (http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/unescape(this.href)) affair.

We always had a more difficult time with casualties, and we shall always have a more difficult time when dealing with them. We will also always be more sensitive to our captives. Some people view this as a weakness, but this is also the source of our strength. This is what makes us what we are.


Let's hope that my next column will be written after Gilad steps back in Israel and hugs his family members, whom he thought about every night, while saddened and pained in Hamas captivity. Let's hope it happens.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3811959,00.html

[OrangeWolf]

Even one terrorist would be a too high price, but it is a high price worth paying. I have a friend who used to be his classmate. I think about Gilad Shalit a lot, and I have told his story to numerous... numerous co-students who had no idea who he was. I hope he will return to his family and his people.

The numbers 500... 980... etc. say little for me. It just proves the fact and my feeling that one Israeli is worth more, much more than hundreds of Arab criminals. Or any number really.

I cannot believe some politicians want to stop all this negotiating, it is time for this man to return home. Until this isn't a fact I will continue to make people aware of his misery, it's all I can do.

[Darklord]

There is no dispute regarding securing Gilad Shalit's release from captivity.

But, at the same time, one must consider the possibility of these terrorists returning to their act with a vengeance and unleashing more havoc on the Israeli population. If that happens, god forbid, then it will be too much of a price to pay.

Case in point: India releasing Masood Azhar and two other terrorists in exchange of hostages in IC 814 in Kandahar. Once freed, he went ahead and formed Jaish-E-Mohammed. One of their high profile attacks was Indian Parliament attack of 2001.

In this case, Israel is releasing 980. They have to be very, very cautious regarding whom they are releasing.

[Laworkerbee]

In this case, Israel is releasing 980. They have to be very, very cautious regarding whom they are releasing.

These releases sure look like a good way to turn loose Palestinians who have been flipped by Israeli intelligence.

[GB_FXST]

Even one terrorist would be a too high price, but it is a high price worth paying. I have a friend who used to be his classmate. I think about Gilad Shalit a lot, and I have told his story to numerous... numerous co-students who had no idea who he was. I hope he will return to his family and his people.

The numbers 500... 980... etc. say little for me. It just proves the fact and my feeling that one Israeli is worth more, much more than hundreds of Arab criminals. Or any number really.

I cannot believe some politicians want to stop all this negotiating, it is time for this man to return home. Until this isn't a fact I will continue to make people aware of his misery, it's all I can do.

Well said.

The time for Gilad to come home has long since passed.

[3rdMillhouse]

It is as once said, one israeli is worth a thousand palestinians.

PS: here's a sugestion>> irradiate these terrorists, so when they get released, they'll die shortly after from cancer

[Henry's Fork]

And here i thought all Juice were great businessmen?
Excuse me if i think this is a utterly shyte deal. Arent they in jail for a reason?
One step forward, only to end up 980 steps back. :-(


It is as once said, one israeli is worth a thousand palestinians.

I thought it was Iran and Syria who said they will fight Israel down to the last Pali?

[budgie]

980 jailed terrorists? If Israel had thast many hard core terrorists in custody they'd have broken the back of any Palestinian resistance. I'm sure a good few were caught plotting in bomb workshops or launching rockets from Gaza but what did the rest do? Throw rocks at Israeli tanks? Or *gasp* shoot back when the IDF stormed their homes? They might be 'the enemy' but not every Palestinian has to be a terrorist.

[the_Wicked]

Right but if those prisoners will make bad things, you'll regret this.

According to me, this price is too high.
Free one man and take the risk to have more suicide-bombings or gunmen who will shot rockets or who will shoot on soldiers, I don't think it's a good deal..
X2

but the Israeli public is completely immune to these sorts of arguments. The entirety of Israeli society nowadays is like a blind locomotive pushing forward and chanting "Free Gilad" mindlessly, with rally after rally after rally.

[Airhab]

980 jailed terrorists? If Israel had thast many hard core terrorists in custody they'd have broken the back of any Palestinian resistance. I'm sure a good few were caught plotting in bomb workshops or launching rockets from Gaza but what did the rest do? Throw rocks at Israeli tanks? Or *gasp* shoot back when the IDF stormed their homes? They might be 'the enemy' but not every Palestinian has to be a terrorist.

qft


theres way too much Ignorance in here

[seasch]

The numbers 500... 980... etc. say little for me. It just proves the fact and my feeling that one Israeli is worth more, much more than hundreds of Arab criminals. Or any number really.

Your facts are wrong.

And lets not make racist and unethical claims, that the life of one person of a certain race is worth more than the life of a person of an other race.

Facts are that Israel is keeping more Palestinians in captivity than the other way round.

[seasch]

It is as once said, one israeli is worth a thousand palestinians.

PS: here's a sugestion>> irradiate these terrorists, so when they get released, they'll die shortly after from cancer

If you can't post something intelligent, don't post at all (or at least not here). If you have something to share, it should at least be something which could happen.

Israel killing a thousand prisorners, is not realistic. Israel irradiating thousand of people is even less probable.

[OrangeWolf]

Your facts are wrong.

And lets not make racist and unethical claims, that the life of one person of a certain race is worth more than the life of a person of an other race.

Facts are that Israel is keeping more Palestinians in captivity than the other way round.

Facts are there are more Arab criminals and terrorists than Jewish terrorists and criminals. Be it absolute or relative number.

Facts is a conscript soldier such as Gilad Shalit is worth MUCH more then hundreds of criminals and terrorists who have blood of civilians on their hands. It has nothing to do with race.

Your last fact is manipulative. What on earth are you tryin to say? It's like saying the Taliban keeps less Americans prison than the other way around. Or criminal organizations are keeping more people "hostage" than society imprisons criminals geez...

[seasch]

Your last fact is manipulative. What on earth are you tryin to say? It's like saying the Taliban keeps less Americans prison than the other way around. Or criminal organizations are keeping more people "hostage" than society imprisons criminals geez...

I wasn't trying to manipulate anything. My point is, than when you have something an other party wants for almost any price, they are willing to give you a lot.

And in this situation, they have something which is a constant thorn in your side. They know, that you are willing to pay a lot. That doesn't devalue the people you are willing to free, just that they are able to overprice you.

[3rdMillhouse]

If you can't post something intelligent, don't post at all (or at least not here). If you have something to share, it should at least be something which could happen.

Israel killing a thousand prisorners, is not realistic. Israel irradiating thousand of people is even less probable.

Who the fvck died and appointed you as a moderator?

[budgie]

Apparently common sense is for mods alone

[frenchy]

By the way there is another problem, according to me.

Free those terrorists and they'll think they can seize other soldiers since Israel is so generous.

I call this encouraging terrorists to act in the same way they did.

[seasch]

Free those terrorists and they'll think they can seize other soldiers since Israel is so generous.

I call this encouraging terrorists to act in the same way they did.

This of course is true. There have been more attempts to capture Israeli soldiers in the past (probalby most noticable, the Zar'it-Shtula incident which more or less started the 2006 Libanon war).

But of course, this problem is not just an Israeli one. Ransomdemands come from pirates, guerillias and the organized crime.

Each time, the demands get met, you strenghten the criminals. Solutions? I don't know. Maybe a tax ten times as much as the ransom was to the army or law enforcement agencies?

[GB_FXST]

This of course is true. There have been more attempts to capture Israeli soldiers in the past (probalby most noticable, the Zar'it-Shtula incident which more or less started the 2006 Libanon war).

But of course, this problem is not just an Israeli one. Ransomdemands come from pirates, guerillias and the organized crime.

Each time, the demands get met, you strenghten the criminals. Solutions? I don't know. Maybe a tax ten times as much as the ransom was to the army or law enforcement agencies?

What is to be done when the terrorists and the government are one and the same?

[3rdMillhouse]

Apparently common sense is for mods alone

Nope, only mods have the right to scold other users for the lack of it, such as me.


What is to be done when the terrorists and the government are one and the same?

You could carry out surprise bombing raids against their governmental buildings, I reckon thought it would ammount a certain number of unnacceptable colateral damage.

[tanks_alot]

980 jailed terrorists? If Israel had thast many hard core terrorists in custody they'd have broken the back of any Palestinian resistance. I'm sure a good few were caught plotting in bomb workshops or launching rockets from Gaza but what did the rest do? Throw rocks at Israeli tanks? Or *gasp* shoot back when the IDF stormed their homes? They might be 'the enemy' but not every Palestinian has to be a terrorist.

Sometimes it's better to avoid writing about subjects you may think you know about, but in fact you do not.

[RoyB]

Stop being all surprised and sh1t.
Israel has been doing such deals for quite some time now, and despite the fact that we do need a policy change, we got nothing to be ashamed of.
One of us is definitely worth A LOT of them, and that's not a racist statement. We should be proud that we actually do everything we can to get our own back home. Hell, even bodies of our fallen are being paid with a high price. But still, we DO need a policy change.

[frenchy]

Stop being all surprised and sh1t.
Israel has been doing such deals for quite some time now, and despite the fact that we do need a policy change, we got nothing to be ashamed of.
One of us is definitely worth A LOT of them, and that's not a racist statement. We should be proud that we actually do everything we can to get our own back home. Hell, even bodies of our fallen are being paid with a high price. But still, we DO need a policy change.

Well, well, one of yours is a lot of them. And that's true.
But future israeli victims likely to be murdered by this freed scumbags are worth too.

I know, it's very complex, and I understand your statement.

[Connaught Ranger]

It is as once said, one israeli is worth a thousand palestinians.

PS: here's a sugestion>> irradiate these terrorists, so when they get released, they'll die shortly after from cancer

Then you have a potential of creating 980 suicide bombers with nothing left to loose and the right mindframe to attack Israeli civil targets once they learn of their medical condition.

[seasch]

What is to be done when the terrorists and the government are one and the same?

Yeah, I know, that is a big problem. Outsourcing hasn't worked either OBL is still on the run even though the prize should be high enough...

[GiladS]

980 jailed terrorists? If Israel had thast many hard core terrorists in custody they'd have broken the back of any Palestinian resistance.

All of these prisoners have taken part in one way or another in terrorist activity (even failed attempts count).

Terrorist networks always regroup and have a never ending reserve of recruits. That's why IDF routine security measures (arrests, checkpoints) are comparable to cutting the grass.

And of course there are the prisoners who are known to have blood on their hands who are the main issue.



I'm sure a good few were caught plotting in bomb workshops or launching rockets from Gaza but what did the rest do? Throw rocks at Israeli tanks? Or *gasp* shoot back when the IDF stormed their homes? They might be 'the enemy' but not every Palestinian has to be a terrorist.


*sarcasm on* Yeah, we figured that simply building concentration camps would draw too much attention. *sarcasm off* :cantbeli:

For a 36 year old you have quite a childish outlook.

[GiladS]

PM will agree to Schalit prisoner swap deal

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will agree to the proposed deal being discussed by his inner cabinet for the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, Channel 1 reported on Monday night.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364460430&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[bbsh]

While i can see why some might be opposed to such prisonner swaps, i think if we managed to free kuntar for 2 corpses then free'ing 980 scumbags for a living soldier is a good deal.

[GiladS]

While i can see why some might be opposed to such prisonner swaps, i think if we managed to free kuntar for 2 corpses then free'ing 980 scumbags for a living soldier is a good deal.

Kuntar will get what he deserves eventually.

[bbsh]

Kuntar will get what he deserves eventually.

It cant possibly happen soon enough.. In case there is ever another flare up with Lebanon, i wont have any objections to having his ankles chained up to the back of a Merkava and dragged through the streets of beirut.

[Ssandro]

The deal also makes sense because it saves the government money not having to feed 980 terrorists every day. Keep them behind a high wall instead, and the best they can do is a few small rockets

[GiladS]

'I face dilemma of freeing Schalit vs. defending Israelis'

By JPOST.COM STAFF, BEN HARTMAN AND AP (editors@jpost.com)

As the nation held its breath on a prisoner swap proposal that would secure the release of captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu emphasized the tough dilemma he was facing during a meeting with representatives of the Almagor terror victims organization, which opposes any prisoner swap deal.

"I'm faced with two vital principles: the desire to redeem captives and the desire to defend Israeli citizens from future attacks," he said, according to a statement from his office in Jerusalem where the meeting took place.
"I have listened with great attentiveness to your personal and difficult stories, and have noted all the important points you have raised," Netanyahu said at the end of the meeting. "The meeting with you was important for me on both a personal and national level."

One of the Almagor representatives, Yossi Tzur, told Army Radio that he got the impression that Netanyahu had still not made up his mind regarding the prisoner swap proposal.

The representatives had been expected to ask the prime minister to stop the negotiations for Schalit's release and to take alternative steps to secure his freedom.

Alamagor's suggestions include pressuring Hamas via sanctions, cutting the supply of both fuel and money to Gaza, and toughening conditions of Hamas prisoners currently being held in Israeli prisons.

Almagor also wants a public debate on the prisoner swap issue, as well as for the names of prisoners who would be released as part of any deal to be made public. The organization opposes the release of any prisoners who have committed murder.

Earlier Tuesday, ******* reported that the German mediator who was scheduled to visit Gaza to give Hamas Israel's response to the terror group's proposal had delayed his trip until Wednesday.

Citing an official close to the negotiations, the news agency said the mediator agreed to an Israeli request for more time to modify its response.
The Prime Minister's Office would not confirm if Israel had indeed requested a postponement of the mediator's Gaza visit.

A Palestinian close to the negotiations said the German mediator had set a Wednesday deadline for Israeli action. The Palestinian, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said there would be no further negotiations.

Israeli media had reported that Israel had delivered a response to Hamas's demands for the release of 1,000 Palestinians, many of whom were involved in attacks. Without identifying sources, the reports said Israel would approve a swap if Hamas agrees to the deportation of some prisoners.

A government official said the question of whether certain prisoners would return to the West Bank or be deported was "clearly" an issue. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release details of the talks.

A Palestinian official said that in addition to seeking to deport about 100 prisoners, Israel was also refusing to free seven of those involved in the most violent attacks on Israelis, including bombing masterminds. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks.

A senior Hamas official, who also declined to be named, confirmed receipt of the Israeli answer. The Hamas government was holding its weekly meeting Tuesday, and the deal was expected to be on the agenda.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak stressed Israel's responsibility to bring Schalit home, albeit not at any price.

Barak's comments followed the inner cabinet meeting Monday night (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364467583&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull)for final marathon discussions, and while speaking about the state's obligation to the soldier, he kept mum on details of the Israeli response.
"We are intensively formulating the correct way to promote the Schalit topic," Barak told high school students in Rishon Lezion. "This is a sensitive time and it would be wrong to expound upon the topic, but we, as those who sent Gilad, feel a responsibility… to make every feasible and worthy move to bring Gilad home, though not at any price."

Barak, who is a member of the inner cabinet, responded to criticism leveled at the potential price Israel would pay by releasing hundreds of convicted killers for one Israeli soldier.

"As far as prisoner exchanges go, we are on a slippery slope, from the Jibril deal to [the exchange for Elhanan] Tannenbaum, and there is no choice but to brake," he told a student. "It is clear to all, within the inner cabinet as well as among the general public, that the modes of action regarding prisoner changes must change."

Likewise, inner cabinet member Eli Yishai was quoted by Army Radio as saying Tuesday evening that a prisoner swap must not be done at any price.

Meanwhile, senior Fatah official, Dr. Sufiyan Abu-Zaydeh, former PA minister for prisoner affairs, called on Israel to okay the deal to release Schalit as soon as possible.

Abu-Zaydeh was invited to the Knesset Tuesday to address a forum on the two-state solution, but during the course of his talk, was requested by event organizers in Kadima to comment on the Schalit negotiations.
"One name more, one name less. One more prisoner, one less prisoner. Forget about all that, and do the important thing quickly," said Abu Zaydeh - himself a former security prisoner.
He added that the deal - said to involve around 1,000 prisoners, was far from releasing all of the approximately 10,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons.

"As long as there are prisoners and as long as the conflict continues, there will be people who seek solutions outside of the framework of negotiations."

After the nocturnal inner cabinet meeting ended overnight Monday, reports began emerging that the seven-member forum had reached its decision. Israel Radio cited an unnamed senior Israeli official as confirming one such report.
Former Fatah-Tanzim leader and terrorist Marwan Barghouti, who is serving multiple life sentences after being convicted in fatal attacks against Israelis, would be allowed to return to his West Bank home, a Palestinian close to the negotiations said. Hamas agreed that several other hard-core convicts would be deported, he said.

An official familiar with the talks told the ******* news agency Tuesday that Hamas would not lessen its demands upon receiving Israel's latest response. He added that any agreement would have to be approved by the terrorist organization's leadership in Damascus.


According to the Prime Minister's Office, the inner cabinet has given Israeli mediator Hagai Hadas a "green light" to continue negotiations with Hamas over a deal to secure Schalit's release.

After more than four hours of talks, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's office released a statement early Tuesday morning saying only that instructions were given to the negotiating team about "the continuation of efforts to bring Gilad Schalit home safe and sound." There was no word of a decision, further meetings or steps. The decision to continue negotiations came in lieu of any final decision by the government to agree unequivocally to Hamas's demands.

The inner cabinet met into the night Monday in what was described by insiders as a final marathon discussion on the prisoner-swap deal that would end Schalit's Gaza captivity.

According to sources close to the deliberations, the proposal to release some 950 Hamas gunmen and activists, some of whom have been convicted of fatal terrorist attacks, for the 23-year-old soldier was expected to gain approval by the forum, after which it would be presented to the full 30-member cabinet.
The Jerusalem Post has learned that several ministers against the swap deal are reconsidering their opposition as the discussions in the inner cabinet progress.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1261364470582&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[GiladS]

'Hamas received Israeli offer, will respond in coming days'

By JPOST.COM STAFF (updates@jpost.com)

Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Zahar told Israel Radio that the German mediator met with the terror group's negotiating team for three hours in Gaza on Wednesday afternoon, relaying Israel's latest proposal in talks on a prisoner exchange deal to secure the release of IDF St.-Sgt. Gilad Schalit.


Hamas will study the Israeli offer and issue its response within several days, he told the radio station, adding that the mediator has left the Gaza Strip for Germany.

In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet on Wednesday morning to discuss recent progress made in the negotiations to secure Schalit's release.

In London, an editorial published in Al-Quds Al-Arabi urged Hamas to reject Israel's latest offer.

"The biggest error Hamas could possibly commit would be to accept conditions for the release of [Palestinian] prisoners, either to the Gaza Strip (West Bank residents) or to exile in Europe," said the London-based newspaper. Hamas, it said, "must hold firm in its refusal to conditions and pressure exerted by Israel and the West, even if this leads to the collapse of the deal."
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was using "tough conditions" to try and lure the Palestinian side into making concessions demanded by "angry far-right parties that form the backbone of the [Israeli] coalition," the London-based paper asserted.



The report stated that Hamas was aware of the Israeli negotiating strategy and was therefore "insisting on its position and avoiding the need to make any concessions," both in terms of the number of prisoners to be freed and the conditions for their release.

The editorial called on the Palestinians to uphold the right of return by outright rejecting the notion of prisoners' expulsion "even if [it is the expulsion of] a small number of deportees, and even if it was conditional on a specific period of time."

Meanwhile on Wednesday morning [I]Al-Hayat reported that negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the prisoner swap deal now hinged on seven Palestinian prisoners.

According to the pan-Arab newspaper, Israel still adamantly refuses to release Tanzim chief Marwan Barghouti, Café Moment and Sbarro terror mastermind Abdullah Barghouti and Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLF) secretary-general Ahmed Sa'adat, along with four other names on the list presented by Hamas.

The report stated, however, that the two sides have agreed on the release of 443 out of 450 of the prisoners demanded by the Hamas leadership in Gaza.

However, Al-Mustaqbal reported on Wednesday that Israel still refused to free nine prisoners whose release Hamas had demanded, among them Marwan Barghouti, Sa'adat, senior figures in Hamas's military wing and three female prisoners.

The UK-based paper, generally associated with Lebanon's Western-backed coalition, reported that Hamas has agreed to Israel's demand to expel 123 Palestinian prisoners from the West Bank. Ninety-seven of the prisoners, it said, would be expelled to the Gaza Strip, more than 20 of them to Qatar, and six to European countries that agreed to absorb them.
Quoting a source close to the talks, the report stressed that Hamas accepted the terms of release set by Israel only after ensuring that the prisoners were included in the agreement.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364481542&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[NimDod]

Then you have a potential of creating 980 suicide bombers with nothing left to loose and the right mindframe to attack Israeli civil targets once they learn of their medical condition.

The Palestinian groups never had a shortage of candidates for the walking bomb role. The suicide bomber's profile usually was not of a person who did'nt have anything to lose as some might think.

what they did lack was the masterminds, bomb experts and other such "talented planners".
the massive capture of such indeviduals in operations "defensive shield" in 2002 was what crippled the second Intifada.
most of the men who were captured there are nominated to be released, and past experiance shows that most of them will return to what they did before they were captured.

[GiladS]

Hamas to accept deportation 'if prisoners agree'


Gaza delegation heads to Damascus for discussions with movement's leadership on possible prisoner swap with Israel

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3824534,00.html

[Chimera]

I really hope Gilad makes it through.

The deal is not perfect, but there is no way Israel can leave the man behind.

[oldsoak]

ditto. May he be re-united with his family soon and may they have a good start to the new year.

[GiladS]

Hamas: We'll respond to Schalit counter-offer by next week

Hamas will respond by next week to Israel's latest counteroffer on swapping Palestinian prisoners for captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit,
a senior official from the terror group said Thursday.

The Damascus-based official, Moussa Abu Marzouk, says the group is currently studying Israel's offer and will deliver its answer "next week at the latest."

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1261364493936&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[domokun]

Hopefully deal gets trough and he gets back in one piece. Terrorists can be dealt with later on.

[LRPV]

Hopefully deal gets trough and he gets back in one piece. Terrorists can be dealt with later on.

Unfortunately the Kuntar case shows this is not the case. I feel for Schalit but this precedent building is not good for an Israeli peace. Israeli borders are too porous and ill-defended to stop repeat kidnappings by any group or clan...all this does is empty Israeli jails...

[RoyB]

My opinion is that the deal should go through.
If they want to make a policy change than they should make it after Gilad is back.

[NimDod]

why can't they change the policy right now?

Israel supplies Gaza with food, water, electricity, medicine, all kinds of merchandise and even the salaries.
Dont you think we could use these as lever? specially now, when the Egyptians are finally starting to block their smuggling tunnels.

I'm not saying lets starve them to death, but pressure from their population whould encourage Hamas to release Shalit, or at least prevent them from using him as a bargaining for so long.

[RoyB]

Its too late for that.
The biggest mistake was that Israel didn't respond aggressively enough right after Gilad was kidnapped. Nothing was done.
And now we're 3 years in..

[GiladS]

Unfortunately the Kuntar case shows this is not the case. I feel for Schalit but this precedent building is not good for an Israeli peace. Israeli borders are too porous and ill-defended to stop repeat kidnappings by any group or clan...all this does is empty Israeli jails...


Kuntar was released for two dead bodies, Gilad is alive.

[ValeriusS]

Some Israelis do not believe that their government is sincere in negotiating with Hamas about exchanging Gilad Shalit. Here's the link to an interesting article by an independent Israeli group:
http://samsonblinded.org/news/shalit-talks-drowned-in-hypocrisy-15345

[Octavariable]

God, I love debunking stupid blogs, here are some other quotes:


In talks with Pharaoh Mubarak

The charge is absurd because Jews have a religious obligation to destroy mosques

Having the UN recognize a Palestinian state might benefit Israel by allowing us to stop subsidizing the enemy and start bombing it as a sovereign state.

Move along people, nothing to see here...
And in other news, the German mediator is in Gaza once more, so let's all wait and see on what grounds Hamas rejects the deal this time.

[filochard]

I would hate if my country followed the terrible Israeli example.
Now that's as if any Israeli citizen have "capture me, I'm worth million dollars and thousand prisonners" written on there face.
Personally I would prefer by far to have "capture me, I'm worth only trouble" written on my face.
What mater at the state level is not the interest of some individuals but the general interest. If my state, France, did like the Israeli state do, I would consider that as betrayal of the national interest. (that happened several time in the past :fork:)

[RoyB]

Wow, good for you.
I'll be sure to remind your parents that when you'll be kidnapped by Al-Qaida.

[Yehuda]

well,he is rigth,royb,we are allways showing weakness towards them,thats not good
a goverment has to look at the big picture

[filochard]

Wow, good for you.
I'll be sure to remind your parents that when you'll be kidnapped by Al-Qaida.

I don't know what I would hate the most: having a state thinking like parents do or parents thinking like my state have to.

[RoyB]

What is a state if not a parent to its citizens?
While I'm in no disagreement that the policy should be changed drastically, your post remain highly out of touch.

[Mastermind]

Well...that's quite a bargain.