Put pressure -no Commando raids are required!

I have a feeling that our leaders do not order taking down their leaders from fear of retribution.

It is about time that this guy should be brought home by other means than talking. If this is not done he will not reach us alive.

Lets get real, after more than 3 years with no word and Hamas claiming he was injured both on capture and during Operation Cast Lead what are the chances that he is still alive. And with Egypt offering to open their border with Hamas (I mean Gaza) why should Israel let up on any of our control?

basically from what is written above there will never be a deal. Anyway before israel can agree on anything i think they need proof he is alive but has to show gilat now like someone standing next to gilad saying some current affairs news. only then can negotiations really begin because if he is dead then israel can take its time. That is why no one is allowed to see or speak to Gilat as otherwise Hamas as a lot less power.

Bechor is right: Hamas won't release Shalit (assuming he is alive) because they gain a lot and lose nothing as long as they hold him. Since Barak/Olmert failed miserably in releasing Shalit in Cast Lead, there is no more any military option. The only way to release Shalit is to make him too expensive for Hamas to hold. All Netanyahu needs to do is start intensive building of Jewish homes in Judea and Samaria until Shalit is released. This would be a violation of the "Road Map" to counter the Arab violation by holding Shalit. By not doing building, Netanyahu is choosing to abandon Shalit.

Israel must stop these embarrassing discussions and start acting independently. It’s impossible that after so many years, the great IDF does not know where Gilad is being held. It’s simply impossible. DEMAND SHALIT RELEASED SAFE AND SOUND, IF NOT, EXTERMINATE HAMAS AND TAKE NO PRISONERS. Arn-Orao.

cause it might kill extra more innocents palis residenses.

... that Corporal Shalit is even alive. Let one of the Europeans who are courting Hamas do more than feed Hamas' overblown ego. One or more of them must be allowed to meet with Shalit. If Hamas refuses, demand that Hamas release a photograph of Shalit holding a newspaper with a current date. Have the experts examine the photograph to ascertain if it is genuine. If Hamas refuses, that is proof positive that Shalit is no longer alive. Then, Israel should reduce Gaza and its nasty inhabitants to rubble. Payback is a bitch .....

And if he were your son?

This Shalit kidnap has become a BIG business for Hamas.. Its an industry in itself. They will soon ask for all Jews to leave Israel in exchange for him (dead or alive) Its enough now . Move on! Enough vigils, seders , candlelighting , mothers for Shalit . Remember Rabbi Meir of Rotenburg in 13 Century!

If he were my son,I would (G-d forbid) be in the same position as parents of those millions of our people over the years who died "Al kiddush Hashem" including those parents whose sons were captured and tortured to death like that Pilot at Zagazig in 67 .What could I do? However,I would not expect my son (or even myself) to be released at a premium that would endanger the lives of tens or hundreds of others of our people . I would try to have the philosophy of Rav Meir of Rotenburg. How many people have been killed or wounded by terros released in swaps in past years .Its easy enough to give us the figures. Its important that our people as a group survive,not some individual's relative and forget about the rest of our people! This canard of "If it was your son,what would you do?"-is a ridiculous Q ,as what could a parent do? I served in the SA DF-what would have happened to me if I would have been captured by some African Movement or Militia. Its a chance we all take on being called to the colours.I couldnt expect my late Bobba to make non stop demos about my fate!

We're all living off the fumes of '67 greatness and Entebbe. No longer exists. That is why Hizbollah wasn't exterminated, and why Israeli deterrence is almost irrelevant. What good is the mighty IDF w/o the political will to use it? A lot flash and sizzle.... where's the tachlis?

Try it. You lack the capability. Or wasn't the humiliation of the Vietnam show, the pathetic attempt to rescue the hostages in Iran and being chased out of Somalia by a bunch of barefoot warlords using 30-year old rocket propelled grenade launchers and World War II vintage Garand rifles enough to teach you everything you need to know about the U.S. military? Afghanistan and Iraq isn't working out quite as well as you thought it might, now is it? Got chased out of Beirut by a handful of illiterate terrorists, too. So, were I you, I would not talk too much about "taking down" anyone. You haven't really got a great track record -- although the U.S. did manage to defeat Grenada and Panama. Whoopie!!!!! Keep in mind that Israel claims ownership of the raid on Entebbe, the destruction of the Osirac reactor, the destruction of Syria's budding nuclear reactor, the destruction of the arms convoy in Sudan, and two Iranian ships carrying shipments of arms destined for their proxies in Gaza and Southern Lebanon. You, Dave in Washington D.C., need to stop all the trash talk. Israel is not Somalia. Rest assured.

I don't think there has ever been a case of Hamas swapping a live Jew for anything. In fact, I don't recall Hamas ever releasing a kidnap victim. Hamas philosophy and policy is to kill its enemies and Jews are its enemies. That's why Hamas has no hesitation about killing civilians of all types. Hamas is brutal. Hamas is criminal. Remember: these are the guys who send suicide bombers into family restaurants and kill entire families, especially women and children, then pay rewards to the families of the bombers and make hero posters of the bombers to give to Palestinian kids.

The IDF knows where he is. They are afraid of another Nachshon Waxman incident, and so do not attempt to free him. That incident is still traumatic to Israelis.

NO.11. ISRAEL MUST ACCORDING TO JESAJAH 11., AND DO AT LEAST THIS - 14But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; UPON THE SHOULDERS MEANS -TO PUT ONES YOKE/RULE UPON THEM. NO 12. I AGREE TO ALL OF THAT EXEPT FOR JEHOWAHS WORD IN JESAJA ABOVE. BUR HUMANLY TO SPEAK, I FULLY AGREE TO YOU. Arn-Orao.

You analysis of Somalia and Veitnam is amatureish at best. Sending in a Ranger battalion, not even a full one at that, is not considered a major miltary action. As an American, which you barely are, you should take pride in knowing that standing between you and people who want you dead is the greatest military force the world has ever seen. Israel has done very well against what are considered the world most undertrained and undisciplined armies on earth. All be it all at once, numerous times. For you to compare the abilties of the US military to that of the IDF is foolish. Just like calling for the carpet bombing of gaza or damascus.

Give Hamas and the Red Cross one week to show Shalit fresh and smiling. If not, spend half a night to invade the Philadelphi Corridor and stay there - permitted according to the Oslo agreement. I mean - why not?

Because we have a government of impotents who are afraid of looking bad in European and American eyes, that's why.

Gilad is stuck not because of Egypt or chamas, but because of our cowardly leaders and the IDF chief Barak....Who are Egypt or Gazan bandits to dictate conditions on anything, let alone release of our soldger, captured by the enemy on our undisputed land for the very purpose of intimidation. And they know exactly how to play this game...Looks like poitics and concern about the worlds opinion, is more important to Israeli politicians, then the life of an IDF trooper ! But I lived in Israel thru the times and wars of 70'sand 80's when no soldier was left behind during or after a battle or capture live or dead. It is We who should be dictating the conditions of release of our captured sons, not our enemy. The pali terrorists have been getting away with way too much, which makes them only more vicious and daring....Right now, the only right way to bring Gilad home is get in there and cause a lot of damage, cut off the power, water & all other crucial daily help, Israel provides those cowards with, until they let Gilad GO. It is the only "language" they understand !

To Alan - # 15 I strongly oppose your post. I feel, that It is a disgrace to " Ha Shem" to leave behind and give up the life of our soldier for an attempt to appease our enemy... The only thing is achieved in such action is encouragement of the enemy to continue on capture of our people for the purpose of intimidation or exchange with thousands of terrorists...You seem to be very shortsighted to say the least. And I doubt very much, you being a former Israeli service man...