Israel's Netanyahu and Cabinet Debate Prisoner Release For Gilad Shalit Return

Oh to be a mouse on the wall in the room where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and key members of his cabinet are now debating what could very well be the final decision on whether Israel will release a thousand palestinian prisoners in exchange for the return of captured IDF soldier, Gilad Shalit.

From the report at Breitbart:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top ministers on Monday debated whether to approve an emotionally charged deal to trade 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier held by Gaza militants for more than three years.
Netanyahu and six ministers had met three times on Sunday, and again on Monday morning. Army Radio reported that an afternoon gathering was planned. With the group divided over the proposed deal, Netanyahu could well bring the final decision to a vote in his full Cabinet.

Israel has been reluctant to meet Hamas' demand to release dozens of Palestinians involved in deadly attacks on Israelis—including some of the most notorious suicide bombings of recent years. It also wants some of the prisoners deported outside the West Bank, for fear they would resume their violence against Israel, as did some Palestinians freed in previous releases.

Now, I've taken the position on Shalit that the Israelis SHOULD release the prisoners and make this deal, but you must realize that it pains me greatly to say that. I can't think of too many with a harsher view of kidnappers and that no negotiations should be made with them, but I also am cognizant of what an IDF soldier means to the people of Israel. I'm smart enough to know that Israel has already set this precedent several times before - hell, it was just recently that Israel made the swap with Hezbollah for the return of the bodies of IDF soldiers Regev and Goldwasser. I look at it this way...if Hamas were, G_d forbid, to kill Shalit, the Israelis would release prisoners for the return of his body. That is a guarantee. Then why not do the release now and bring the young man home, alive?

At the same time, a prisoner release is a specific agreement that would be met by Israel - that agreement does not stipulate what Israeli actions should be AFTER the release and that, I believe is where the retribution takes place. I would be supportive of Israel bringing a swift and decisive vengeance down upon Hamas, once Shalit is back home and safe. Considering all of the time that has transpired since Shalit's abduction, my guess is that the Israelis have a complete file of Hamas operatives and leaders involved in his capture - every single one of those Hamas should be meticulously taken out over the next year. Every single Hamas that touched Shalit in the process from capture to imprisonment to release - whether that was a phyiscal touch, an email recipient, a leader discussing it or a financial backer of it should pay the price.

I truly hope that this all can mean the return of Gilad Shalit - this young man has lost much of his young life - let him come home and feel the love of his family and countrymen. Then go after the animals that abducted him and make it very clear, make it very evident that if you touch an IDF soldier in the future, you will pay a price with your life....whether you are in the heart of Gaza, on the fringe in the West Bank or if you occupy an office in Syria.

Israel close to deciding on prisoner swap

JERUSALEM (AP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top ministers on Monday debated whether to approve an emotionally charged deal to trade 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier held by Gaza militants for more than three years.
Netanyahu and six ministers had met three times on Sunday, and again on Monday morning. Army Radio reported that an afternoon gathering was planned. With the group divided over the proposed deal, Netanyahu could well bring the final decision to a vote in his full Cabinet.

protest tent outside the prime minister's official residence, dozens of demonstrators carried cardboard cutouts of the captured soldier, 23-year-old Sgt. Gilad Schalit, and urged Cabinet ministers to wrap up an agreement.
A deal, if approved, could dramatically improve the standing of the Gaza Strip's Islamic militant Hamas rulers among Palestinians and herald an easing of the blockaded territory's crippling isolation. The chief loser could be Hamas' bitter rival, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is backed by the West but whose popularity has suffered at home.
Bringing Schalit home could boost Netanyahu domestically given the Israeli public's deep concern for the young man's fate. However, it could also hurt the prime minister's standing among Israelis who feel releasing prisoners convicted of violence would only invite more bloodshed.
The swap, if approved, would be subject to a 48-hour period for opponents to file legal challenges.
Hamas spokesmen had no comment on the dealmaking Monday.
Israel and the Iranian-backed Hamas have held multiple rounds of swap talks, most mediated by Egypt, ever since militants affiliated with the Islamic group dragged a bleeding Schalit into Gaza following a cross-border raid in June 2006 that also killed two other soldiers. Momentum picked up in recent months with the introduction of a German mediator into the negotiations.
Israel has been reluctant to meet Hamas' demand to release dozens of Palestinians involved in deadly attacks on Israelis—including some of the most notorious suicide bombings of recent years. It also wants some of the prisoners deported outside the West Bank, for fear they would resume their violence against Israel, as did some Palestinians freed in previous releases.
Schalit's parents sat down with Netanyahu after the ministers' morning meeting. There was no immediate word on the substance of their discussion.
"I hope that they will decide today and that everyone who votes understands that their vote means either a death sentence for Gilad or that he will be set free," Aviva Schalit told Army Radio before meeting Netanyahu.
Prisoner swaps are controversial in Israel because of their potential to encourage militants to take more hostages. But the plight of the quiet, gangly tank crewman has touched the hearts of many Israelis, where military service is compulsory and most families have relatives who serve.
For the Palestinians, the release of hundreds of men, women and teen-agers would be a major victory. Most Palestinian families have had relatives in Israeli jails at one time or another, and the prisoners have come to achieve near-iconic status in Palestinian society.
Aside from handing Hamas new political capital, a release could lead to the easing of a blockade that Israel and Egypt have imposed on Gaza since Hamas wrested control there in 2007. Schalit's captivity is one of the reasons Israel maintains the embargo. The blockade has prevented Gazans from rebuilding after Israel's punishing offensive there a year ago.
Hamas released a video of Schalit in October—the first time he had been seen since his capture. Hamas also declared last month that all of Gaza's militant groups had agreed to suspend rocket attacks on Israel.
Sporadic attacks have occurred since then, eliciting retaliatory Israeli strikes.
A Palestinian familiar with the talks has said the prisoners would be released in two stages. A first group of 450 would be freed as Schalit is handed over to the Egyptians, and then returned to Israel. The remainder would be released weeks or even months later.
Hamas has been demanding that the list of freed prisoners include Marwan Barghouti, a popular leader of Abbas' Fatah Party, who favors a peace agreement with Israel but is serving five consecutive life terms for his role in shooting attacks that killed four Israelis and a Greek monk.
His release could force the 74-year-old Abbas aside because Barghouti has remained widely popular with the Palestinians even while behind bars and has aspirations to become president.