Should Yigael Amir be freed? Shouldn't the response to releasing a murderer be revulsion and derision? I guess you need morals to have moral outrage.

If a country must disregard justice, the national expression of morality, in order to move in a certain direction, then it is clear that the goal is immoral. The end does not justify the means. Usually, the end is expressed in the means. Letting murderers free is a nod of agreement. Even if I was left wing, I could not justify using the court system as a diplomatic tool, especially when it means accepting murderers as legitimate.

Anytime you see articles like this, you have to ask yourself if this is at the instigation of a politician floating an unpopular idea. Quite often, there is an incestuous relationship between some in the media & our unscrupulous conniving under-handed low-life politicians. Barghouti has nothing to do with Shalit. Barghouti is a convicted murderer, a convicted terrorist. He was convicted in a court of law. Gilad Shalit is a soldier kidnapped & held for ransom by terrorists. There is no equivalence. Can a gov't. make a mockery of our own courts, of our own laws? Can a gov't. disregard the law? Convicted murderers are not bargaining chips. To talk about strategy, advantages, etc. is to distract from the real issue. Palestinian politics is of no concern in such a matter. Our gov't. cannot undermine the moral foundation of the law by freeing convicted murderers no matter what the reason. Yes, we should make great efforts to free Shalit. There are many ways we can pressure his captors to force his release. Releasing murderers is the easy way out, more convenient perhaps than other methods.

is get leaders with a backbone and power and get rid of these weak pathetic olmerts who are destroying this country with their release of terrorists and arming them. According to many MKs, Olmert should be imprisoned because of his "blood on his hands" because of his release of terrorists. As for Barghouti. He was Released Twice Before - and Returned to Terrorism.

Israeli Politicians Line Up for Barghouti's Release from Jail 29 Tevet 5768, 07 January 08 07:31by Hillel Fendel(IsraelNN.com) Deputy Defense Minister Vilnai and former Defense Minister Ben-Eliezer say Marwan Barghouti, responsible for the murder of more than 30 Israelis, is a strong leader for the Palestinian Authority and should be freed from prison. Ben-Eliezer, a former Labor Party Chairman and Defense Minister who now serves as Infrastructures Minister, says he will "fight for Barghouti's release." Matan Vilnai of Labor, a former Deputy IDF Chief of Staff and currently the Deputy Defense Minister, has been saying for weeks that he supports release for the imprisoned murderer Marwan Barghouti. It was also reported some six weeks ago that former Defense Minister Amir Peretz had visited Barghouti in prison twice in the preceding weeks. Serving Five Life Sentences for Murder Barghouti has been imprisoned since 2002, having been found guilty of organizing three terrorist attacks in which five Israelis were murdered, and of planning a fourth attack. He was sentenced to five life sentences plus 40 years. Barghouti was acquitted at the time of over 20 other murders carried out at his behest, with the court finding that the evidence showed only his indirect involvement in those murders. Staffers in the Prime Minister's Office said that Barghouti's release is not on the agenda. Public Security Minister Avi Dichter of Kadima said as well that Barghouti "has much blood on his hands and must remain in prison until his last day." Barghouti, when and if he leaves prison, is slated to succeed Mahmoud Abbas as leader of the Fatah-headed Palestinian Authority. The Hamas terrorist group is also demanding the release of Barghouti, with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal hinting that Shalit would not be returned to Israel as long as Barghouti is still in Israeli prison. Preparing a Deal for Shalit Israel's government is planning a list of 400-600 terrorist prisoners it will offer to release in exchange for captive hostage soldier Gilad Shalit. Speaking Sunday morning with Army Radio, Ben-Eliezer said that if he sees that Barghouti's name is not on the list, "I plan to fight to make sure his name is put on it." Asked why, Ben-Eliezer said, "On the other side of our negotiating table with the Palestinians, I want to see a dependable leader who will be able to come through on whatever he promises." Ben-Eliezer was referring to the convicted terrorist Barghouti. Barghouti was Released Twice Before - and Returned to Terrorism The Almagor Terror Victims Association notes that Barghouti has already been freed from Israeli prison twice before - only to be returned to prison each time for even more heinous crimes and murders. He was originally arrested in 1976; after his release (under unknown circumstances, Almagor states), he was one of the initiators and leaders of the first intifada that began in late 1987. He was ultimately arrested and banished to Jordan, where he remained for seven years. He was allowed into Judea and Samaria in 1994 in the framework of the Oslo Accords, after promising not to revert to terrorism. In 1996, he became a PA legislator and the General Secretary of Fatah - which perpetrated many murderous terror attacks over the next several years. He was finally arrested for the last time (as of now) during Operation Defensive Shield in April 2002.

Hamas is very interested in Marwan Barghouti release only to kill him, and send to Israel a bill to pay, with confusion and others problems made by Hamas boss in Iran and Siria.

not another American lackey. Put Olmert beside his terrorist buddies, that is where he belongs

Yeah, in a body bag.

birds including the top crime syndicate capo di capi of all Israel criminals from Israeli Prisons in a "swap"? BTW I think Terry is right-Is this a balloon from Olmert "for debate"

Barghouti should have been executed long ago.

He should be chained to the graves of Revital Ohayon and her two sons.

I have read nothing to this effect anywhere else. What did I miss!

These MKs who are collecting great salaries in office are gutless morons if they are serious about this. Hamas made dozens of "agreements" with Fatah and not one lasted more than 24 hours. They would make a huge deal of their success in freeing an unrepentant Jew-killer, and Israel would not get Shalit. Israelis, please throw these disgraces from office and clean up the political system so this never happens again!

and why does the government want to release more?

but when I write that it always seems to get censored

We have the benefit of hindsight considering that the israeli government has released tens of thousands of terrorists in the past, including big names like Yassin and even Barghouti. What has this achieved? Aside from the the terrorists going to murder and maim hundreds of more Israelis, how has it improved Israel's situation and strengthened its position? Its very obvious that Shalit's own kidnapping was triggered by the fact that his kidnappers were emboldend by Israel's earlier release of thousands of terrorrists for one Israeli and two dead Israelis. The Barghouti exchange would only see further cases of kindnappings and killings as well as another possible war with Lebanon. The more I hear of cases in favour of a Barghouti exhange, the more I become convinvced that the Israeli government and media elites need to have mandatory lobotomies performed on them.

I thought Shallit is in Gazza???? Doesn't that mean he is in Hamass control, so why would they release him to bolster Fatah???? Definitely twisted logic. If i was PM, i would threaten to hang this monster, unless Shallit is released, but never release him. Then threaten to assassinate Haniyeh. if they wont release Shallit!

If Israel publically executed all terrorists,there would be no reason for terrorist groups to kidnap Israelis.Israel should be resolute and not reward terrorists with releases of convicted murderers

Barghouti should NOT be freed. NO!

By trying to make legitimate the unthinkable swap between the killer and the victim he covers up higher ranks idiots and gives himself a bad name. Isn’t it heresy to say: “Releasing Barghouti in Shalit deal would be good for Hamas, and POSSIBLY for Israel too”? If you are addicted gambler see professional help and NEVER PUT OTHER PEOPLE LIVES AS A BETTING CARD ON THE TABLE!

He should be freed in exchange for Gilad Shalit, and taken out after that!

Releasing hundreds of terrorists from jail including one of their chiefs for a failed young corporal defies belief. Makes Israel an easy target for murderous blackmail. The moment Shalit is released if not before a new kidnapping of Israelis will take place. Sad story of very poor thinking with time and again Israelis winning batles and loosing peace.

The question is: if he's not freed, which he obviously shouldn't be, then what will it take for the release of Shalit? What will it take to get Shalit and the other kidnapped soldiers back to Israel. Is there another alternative of having our soldiers freed apart from Barghoutti's release that would be enough for the enemy to agree to Shalit's release? He can't be in the enemy's hands forever. It seems to be a vicious circle. The families need their sons back which is also of vital importance.

And herein lies the dilemma. It is essential that we relieve the suffering in captivity of Gilad Shalit and seek his earliest return to his family; but do we do this by releasing a monster who has much Jewish blood on his hands and may dip his hands yet again into more Jewish blood? If ever there was a time for divine guidance on a subject, it is now, but given the absence of this, we shall have to leave the decision to the policy makers in the Government who hopefully will pay full attention to the advice of military and religious advisors before acting.

...on what kind of country Israel wants to be. If Barghouti is a convicted criminal, then it's a question for parole board when, if at all, he should be freed. If he is a hostage kept as a bargaining coin, then it's only a question of getting a good deal. However, in this latter case, I must admit that I don't see a significant difference between Israel and Hamastan, at least concerning the rule of law.

I would release Barghouti and only Bhargouti and no one else after Shalit is freed AND THAT IS THE BEST OFFER WE CAN MAKE anything else no deal no reduction in sanction ceasefire or blockade .TAKE IT OR ROT IN YOUR SEWERS

Bargouti is imprisoned because he has been found guilty of MURDER. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ see: http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/archive/israel%20line/2004/Israel%20Line%2020-May-2004 +++++++++++++++++++++++++ The court ruled that Barghouti was directly responsible for a January 2002 terror attack on a gas station in Givat Zeev in which ISRAELI YOELA CHEN was MURDERED . Barghouti had ADMITTED his RESPONSIBILITY for this attack. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Law has NO meaning, when murderers are released for political reasons. Has RON BEN YISHAI completely lost his "compass" to even CONSIDER freeing Barghouti ? ? moshe Israel I