Gilad Shalit was kidnapped into the Gaza Strip 778 days ago. How can you kidnap a soldier? Soldiers are 'captured' or 'taken prisoner'. It's part of the job description. Anyway - look up how many Palestinians are held in Administrative Detention i.e. held without charge or recourse to legal aid, and it puts this soldiers fate into sharp releif.

Three of the former Shabak Leaders are recommending that the exchange of prisoners be done on the terms of Hammas, that's it. It is good that Hammas were stupid enough not to have requested the release of the 11,600 Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel. It is a good deal.

They will keep making demands as to conditions, and demands as to who will fight for their terrorist demands more. I'm surprised they asked for the Germans, since tutu carter and mugabe would fit their likings more. They better hurry though, the age of kadima/labour.meretz appeasement is coming to an end

Only a complet closing of the borders of the Gaza Strip, no fuel, no electricity, no humanitatian or medical assistance, a total closure, as long as needed, will bring to the liberation of Gilead Shalit. There should be no other option. More over the problem of kidnapped soldiers at : http://xrl.us/em3de

When soldiers are captured or taken prisoner, they have rights as spelled out in the Third Geneva Convention, including the right to Red Cross access and to send/receive messages from their families. As Gilead Shalit has been granted none of this, kidnapped or hostage are indeed better terms.

gilad shalit is NOT being held as a prisoner of war, because none of the palestinian terrorist groups respect any rule of law, or the geneva conventions. everything they have done to israeli prisoners, including physical abuse (and murder), their use for propaganda purposes, and denying red cross access, are all in violation. now, egypt, their mediator of choice (gaza is still legally part of egypt, remember?), isn't good enough for these criminals. they would prefer germany, who managed to extract a record high price for regev and goldwasser, without even obtaining proof that they were still alive. israel should send their "preferences" to burn in hell, but this government will probably just continue to appease them. hamas and hezbollah are shameless death-pedlars, dealing in corpses and body parts, and should be repaid in kind.

Almost 6000 Palestinian children have been arrested since the September 2000 start of the Al Aqsa Intifada. 350 Palestinian children between the ages of 14 and 18 years are currently imprisoned by Israel. It is worth noting that whilst both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Israel has signed, and Israeli law define a child as any person under the age of 18 years, Israeli military law applicable in the West Bank defines a child as any person under the age of 16 years.

He is an 'enemy combatant'. He was 'rendered' and is held in a secret location. No access to legal aid or family visits are granted. He is considered a potential danger if he is released. Is what you mean.

Funny that you should mention the "Third Geneva Convention". Does Israel respect that convention? I believe that the convention outlaws torture, and we've seen the torture chambers left behind by the withdrawing Israeli army at their concentraion camp in Nsar, South Lebanon.

Since you refer in your post to the "Geneva Convention", I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the convention you are talking about does not permit the imprisonment of children. How many Palestinian children are in Israeli jails today?

... that the Palestinians destroy again and again their possibilities to get a state: After the Israeli RETREAT from the Strip they started attacking Sderot and kidnapped Gilad Shalit. Instead they could have delivered the evidence that they are able and mature for statehood – for finally getting more land. BUT NO, they like more to show their old, boring and annoying Palestinian BS. Nothing new in Palestine. The consequences of their acting: The closing of several border posts. And now... they are complaining and whining again and swearing revenge – the whole Palestinian thing is infantile... as are their supporters who deny RESPONSIBILITY for actions...