The Olmert administration is apparently in a big hurry to get Gilad Shalit released before the Netanyahu administration can refuse to release terrorists responsible for the murder of hundreds. And the AFP says the deal is getting closer.
Egypt hosted closed-door talks on Wednesday on a prisoner swap between Hamas and Israel that would set free soldier Gilad Shalit along with hundreds of Palestinians.
For a third time in two weeks, Israeli negotiator Ofer Dekel returned to Cairo on Tuesday night in an effort to nail down an elusive deal, that could pave the way for a long-term truce for the Gaza Strip.
[…] He said the two sides were in a race against the clock to seal a deal before an April 3 time-limit for Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu to form a new government.
“There are some names of terrorists (on the list) whose release would be unacceptable for Israeli public opinion,” said the source close to the talks. “The question is whether Hamas is flexible enough to remove such names.”
He said Cairo was preparing a two-stage release: about 300 Palestinians would walk free in return for Shalit’s transfer to Egypt, and he would return home once the rest are released.
If this is true, then I will be eating my words about his being dead. But again, we need evidence, something that Hamas refuses to supply without a “price” (as in: Release murderers and we’ll show you proof he’s not dead).
Olmert is setting the stage for Hamas and any other terror group to repeat the process. And some Israelis are not happy.
Over the past few days a group of bereaved parents has been gathering opposite the protest tent set up by Gilad Shalit’s family in Jerusalem.
The group is voicing its objection to a possible exchange deal with Hamas that would see the captive IDF soldier returned to Israel in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners – some of them considered to be terrorists with ‘blood on their hands.’
Released terrorists perpetrated 30 terror attacks and murdered 177 Israelis.
Ah, but Meryl, when Shalit is released for several hundred terrorists–one Jew for many Arabs–keep us posted on all the diplomats and pundits who point out how disproportionate this is.
Oddly enough, right now no one even seems to be mentioning that having to give up hundreds to get one shows something that may not fit the received narrative about the conflict. Still, if it is a three hundred for one trade and western governments and media are OK with it, it will mark one of the few times when they found a Jewish life actually sort of worth something.