What ever happened to "I can get it for you wholesale?"

Obviously the Egyptians have been well trained by their Hamas brethren.

Release our obviously innocent citizen and we won't cut off our funding for Egypt. How's that for terms?

equal extortionists..just like iran with the three usa citizens they claimed are spies. extortion is the arab conduct.

the US requested he release - Why Egypt is asking Israel to free prisoners when it is a US/Egypt issue. Although I want him to be release by either way. May G-d help Illan and protect him

Everyone thinks they can kidnap/jail an Israeli then extort an exorbitant price for his return.

let them have their demands, but we can stop the usa "aid" to them and let them demands to the highest heavens, for all we care, ha, ha, ha!

Are these murderers or pick pockets?

With this action, they stand at exactly the same level of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the rest, they dropped all intention to "justify" Garpel's arrest, and now are showing their real face, trading him as a hostage - exactly as Shalit - that kind of thing only is done by an ENEMY. So, now it's public. And USA accepts it as quite natural - even a bargain, since it's Israel who has to do the dirty job. Shame! It's revolting.

Israles should NOT participate at all in this abhorrent "negotiation", who should show some balls is USA, that simply should THREATEN (seems they've forgotten how it's done) Egypt with cutting his over-generous help, and stop that nonsense in the craddle. This will only lead to future "demands" they simply need to fetch an israeli/jew tourist and all is ready for a new blackmail. It's a road to defeat and humiliation. If we didn't apologized to Turkey, we should give NOTHING to Egypt. It's the only right - and dignified - thing to do. Will Bibi understand this? I'm afraid not...

The ransom demanded by Egypt for the innocent Israelis it kidnaps is too high. I also hope another consequence of this will be the withdrawal of our diplomats from Egypt.

If Ilan's parents make a lot of noise and demonstrate, then the rate will go up by hundreds more egyptian prisoners for him.

First, the heavy prisoner exchanges with Hizbullah. Then, actually considering a 1000 terrorist exchange for Gilad, now Egypt thinks they can make baseless demands for a kidnapped US citizen whom they already admitted was never a spy. They've taken a page right out of the Iranian playbook - kidnap, make up a story, threaten a long prison sentence and "quick" trial, then open the door for the extortion. Israel, tell Egypt to piss off, then open the door for litigation against them in the crime of kidnapping with Israel and the US as plantiffs.

Any Israeli crossing into Sinai should now be alert to their value as a hostage. The only difference between the new "Arab Spring" Egyptians and Hamas is that the Egyptians will graciously permit the Red Cross to visit you while you rot away. So sad to say... really sad to say, but the one most responsible for this development is Noam Shalit.

.....and you can keep any Israeli dumb enough to travel to any Arab or Muslim country at this time. We have enough problems without fools like this. The US press does not even bother to report on this guy. He is severely screwed, and he went far out of his way to end up in his current situation, and why should we pay, when he is freed he will become rich, from t.v. and a book, for what? For causing us harm through childish behavior. This guy Anat Kam and Daphne Leef are all cut from the same cloth, spoiled dumb children, who think they are super special, when in reality they are complete garbage. The same goes for the three American hikers that were imprisoned in Iran. They should have been left to rot. Let's concentrate on Gilad Shalit, he has been imprisoned far to long, he needs to be rescued at any cost, he was captured serving this nation, RESCUED not bartered for, even if we have to capture or kill every Hamas leader in the process and if he is killed we should take out their entire leadership, that is the only way to protect our citizens. It is a damn shame what Israel has become.

As long as the released prisoners are required to live in the US without the ability to leave the US, why not?

Shame on Leon Panetta for not being able to release Ilan Grapel who has been living in the United States and is first and foremost his responsibility. What happened with the leader of the world, who can give billions to Arab countries and are spited on the face each and every time? Ilan Grapel is no spy. Let the U.S. President learn to deal with such issues, instead of asking Israel to release 82 prisoners, and create a precedent.. There should be a limit to such demands. Egypt is not Hamas and it is accountable, Arab Spring or not.

want 78 of their nationals back, some with maybe Israeli blood on their hands? Is this April 1st?

And so we see how thing will be with the Egyptians from now on, and the MB are not even in full power yet. Anyone who hopes things will be peaceful are in complete denial. Sad for Egypts Christians as well who are probably best to leave ASAP.

Show us all the diminished value of American influence these days. Actually it's not diminished, but rather it now encourages defiance. Heckuva job Obama!

Dont get me wrong - I dont want this guy harmed, but he went voluntarily. He's supposed to be vaguely intelligent, so he should have understood the dangers. if and when he gets out will he be like those US tourists recently released from Iran,who promptly blamed the USA iro Guantanamo? I dont agree with the Shilats blaming Israel, but at least they can say Gilad was doing his duty to the state. What was this one doing? Playing nice leftist.

This man freely went to Egypt, and behaved in a way to get caught. If he is a leftist, let him stay. If there is to be a prison exchange, then all the leftist in Israel would go to Egypt to get impriosoned!!! First Gilad Shalit has to be released.

So in fact Grapel wasn't a spy, the Egyptians kidnapped him for extortion. I guess this proves the value of peace with Arabs.

He is a US citizen and resident. There si no reason for Israel to be involved in any deal.

Let the American's worry about this adventurer clown. We returned too many for that Drug Pusher Adventurer Tennenbaum, terrorists that could have been exchanged to bring a real live soldier home. We have Gilat Shalit to bring home first.

then Pollard must be released by the U.S. - otherwise NO DEAL!