To Terry: As a former law enforcer (US) I learned early on that when you give a finger, eventually you give the entire body. The other side will continue to exploit your weakness, which you consider strengths. Mistake one: Israel bargaining for kidnapped soldiers, instead of forcing the other side to (not a cease fire) but surrender. Hamas should be given 24hrs to release him to Egypt, or face 24/7 bombings of theiir cities. Make THEM pay in blood. I agree with you totally...Olmert and Company are pathetic leaders, being toyed with by everyone, Hamas, the US, EU, UN, Condi, the big 4, and Americans for Peace Now, (Israel's version). Secondly: a 12.00 hangman's noose for Barghouti and other terrorists was the correct punishment. Israel is being taken for a ride..yet wants "Jewish" civil responses...Hitler is laughing in his grave, Israel. Wake-up.

kol hakavod. it is brave goog JEWS LIKE YOU AND YOUR HEROIC SON WHO RESTORE FAITH IN HUMANITY. MAY HASHEM BLESS YOU AND HEAL YOUR BROKEN HEART.

I agree with you. Sometimes I have a feeling that Miki Goldwasser loves to feel all the publicity around her and loves to be in the limelight. I believe that she knew already a year ago that her son was dead, but nevermind, "release kuntar and after me the flood". And now she speaks about Gilad !!!!!! He may remain for the rest of his life in Gaza if we don't agree with Hamas request of exchange because she wanted her son FIRST. But Gilad IS ALIVE and should have been returned before the dead soldiers.. Mrs. Goldwasser, with all due respect, stay out of this, it's not your problem anymore. Take care of your own family and of Karnit and leave us and the Shalit family alone.

I am astounded at the cruelty of so many of you. To eagerly, EAGERLY and GLEEFULLY attack this woman in her grief, because you have such evil in your own heart you can see nothing else. You show by your own words your own abhorrence, that you are morally bankrupt and a disgrace to those that would claim humanity within themselves. You have not walked in this woman's shoes. Your experience is not hers. You are not able walk within the heart and mind of others. In fact, you do not know even yourself, yet you gleefully pass such savage indictment on a grieving mother. I think you should be on view at a museum somewhere to show that humans can survive without a heart and blood in their veins. Ask yourself what is it within you that brings such hatred and malice? Why do you allow it within yourself? What's that, you don't see it as hatred and malice? In that case I pity your blindness also.

and we are not playing with a fair ennemy. We are playing by the rule, they are not. Miki and her family were hoping that he would come back alive. I am sure that if all of us knew he was dead, we would not have paid that price. The Arabs are much smarter than we are. They are hiding behind thugs and blaming them for not playing by the rule. Then the countries fully adopt the thugs policies. It is the rule of the jungle and it works. So, of course that even Miki thinks that the way she got back her son is not worth the price we paid. Why can't we learn from the Arabs? They are so smart at manipulating and getting what they want and they will if we let them. We need a strong government but there is nobody in sight that will lead this country. Our army is weak because we have a country and our people believes in live and let live. It is no longer the army of the survivors. They are strong because they are playing the guerilla war, the most successful war ever and they are motivated by radicalism and Allah.

You are so right! Your comments couldn't be more fitting. As we saw again how Olmert and co. work, in order to gain popular support. Like you, we have worried and cared for a good outcome of recent events. However, deep down, I felt that dealing with a prisoner exchange, is the most barbarian method to pacify the families of our children. Where was the Red Cross? The only time I saw a representative of that organization, was when Hizbullah literally dumped two black coffins. The RC representative stood by without a word or any feeling. It is not surprising for those of us, who lost faith in the Red Cross years ago, knowing that they are not to be trusted, or they would have shed light on the terrible outcome, two years ago. Olmert has repeatedly shown his true colors. We think of Karmit doing everything to get information, and the terrible pain she is suffering, along with the rest of your family. Unfortunately, Gilad Shalit's survival depends on hope, but not help. No prisoner has ever returned alive from those monsters, and stupidly, we sent back prisoners of the worst kind, with blood on their hands. My thoughts are with you, and if I can help you in any way, I will do that. Yours, Ruth Krammer

i respect your feelings as a mother .but i respect the feelings of all mothers /i think there are more than 6000 palastinian mothers with sones in israil prisons .and more than 3000 mothers with killed sons by israili fire .. it is not my point but in policy you are wrong and in humanity you are unfare .

Ms. Goldwasser wrote that no free gestures should be made . Take and give is her argument . Our corrupt PM hasn't stopped giving and granting Abuabu all he demanded, while we haven't got any piece of progress as to Gilad Shalit's release from dark cell .

Leave it out .Cruelty ? Me? Dont blame me for releasing Samir Kuntar the monster who still wants to kill Israelis,If he knocks on your door you will be the first to call Miki Goldwasser all the bad names you can think of.I have mourned the loss of many people ,sadly, but I do this in private and with dignity,something mrs Goldwasser could well do with learning. A bit like watching "poor Palestinians crying and saying how cruel the Jews are on the B.B.C it is wearing a bit thin.2000 civilians were killed in Georgia today ,lets feel sympathy for them.Having said that,may hashem shine his light on mrs goldwasser and may she know no more suffering.

I clearly remember reading in israeli newspapers months ago that the israeli intelligence knew that both Regev and Goldwasser were certainly dead so I assume the families must have had some idea.

Please address your talback and send it to Hizballah.Everything you wrote applies exclusively to them.Cruelty and morally bankrupt you say? That would be better directed to Sheik Nasrallah who held the 2 captured soldiers without giving any info as to their condition,denying Red cross visits etc.I can accept maybe I was a bit harsh, but dont direct your anger at me .I endured 30 plus days of bombardment during that war but I blame Hizballah for that and not Mr. olmert or Mr .Ben -ish.Dont shoot the Messenger.

Ben -ish ,I am originally from England.The day Princess Diana died the whole country went berserk crying hysterically ,I was the only one who could not care less .You see ,I can be a bit callous,which is a distinct advantage in the middle east .Do you think Nasrallah is sentimental ,or Asswipe,oops I mean Assad ,or Ahmadinejad the Hitler wannabe,who could nuke Tel-aviv without blinking an eyelid.

You cheapen the words Hatred and malice.Like the people who cheapen the word Genocide .Israel kills 2 palestinians in self-defense and the sentimental mob at B.B.C use the term genocide.The holocaust ,now THAT was Genocide same as pol pot in cambodia ,Rwanda etc.Read the history of yom kippur war and see what syrian army did to Israeli prisoners,then maybe you will have a better understanding of the words Hatred and Malice.

Thank you for your strong and incisive editorial from Miki Goldwasser. I just wanted both families to know that half a world away, there are those who grieve for your loss, Mrs. Goldwasser, and pray for the protectiuon and safe return of Gilad, Aviva (and Noam, and all family members). It was heartbreaking to hear international reports of a "prisoner swap" and then see body bags. I have kept photos of Udi, Eldad and Gilad throughout my house to remind me to pray for them over the last year. Now we must mourn Udi and Eldad's passing, but hold firm in our hopes for Gilad's safe return, which must happen soon. I am not Jewish nor am I an Israeli citizen; one needn't be either to feel revulsion over this issue, if they have looked at even the most bare facts in the case. I wonder if Abbas has any idea how repugnant such a move looks from this perspective....does he not know that the world is watching, and such moves only undermine that which would truly move the Palestinian people forward, not back? His short-sightedness is staggering. He appears to believe that one Gilad Shalit is worth 150 of his own people, and who can disagree with him in light of this appalling behavior? Theoretically speaking, of course. I simply wanted to express my solidarity with all three families and agree that this time, Gilad must be considered first. The gross characterization of a "goodwill gesture" here is stomach-turning, given the situation. May Adonai bless all your families, as you live through the unbearable. Shalom. Patrick Jarvis Palm Springs, California

Poor Miki Goldwasser,and she is Poor is yesterdays news.So are the hundreds of israelis who died after her son was abducted by Hizballah during Lebanon war no.2.Move On. Todays news.Over 2000 civilians dead in Georgia,jewish Agency trying desperately to evacuate people there.Tomorrows news ,G-d forbid if there was a repeat of munich massacre at the olympics in China in which israelis were brutally murdered ,the rest of the World would play on ,like nothing happened .yes I remember Munich .Move on .Looks like World War 3 with Iran coming in the next few months ,maybe millions of dead .Move on.Poor little girl Madeleine Mccann abducted in Portugal last year ,Parents on Television every day ,After a few weeks ,the Public became tired of the story .Move on.

34 put his openion in his post .but you want to write the suffering of jews and all the people you are angry of the dead and lived people of the world in the past and present and future . what happen to the hope . .hope is better than anger or cuereltu or heartless .

This will be my final Talkback as I have said more than enough.You are right,no point me being Bitter or angry and we should all have hope.At the end of the Day ,hope is all we have left .May the Lord bless us all.