Shalit deal: Supporters, objectors gather in J'lem

By Monday evening, supporters and objectors to the Shalit deal gathered outside the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, including Karnit Goldwasser, the widow of abducted IDF soldier Ehud Goldwasser.

"These are difficult and nerve-wrecking moments," Goldwasser, who endroses the Shalit deal, said. "We experienced them a year and a half ago. Back then it was summer and it was hot, while today it's cold, but the feeling is the same. It's difficult, it's tense, and it appears to be the moment of decision."

"This is not Gilad Shalti's personal problem; it's the problem of a State that is responsible for its citizens," Goldwasser said.

Meanwhile, among the protestors against the deal is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's brother in law, Hagai Ben-Artzi, who said: "Netanyahu must not, under any circumstances, approve this deal. It would be capitulation to terror. Bibi must be faithful to everything he wrote in his books and taught us over the years."

Ben-Artzi's presence seemed to agitate other activists, one of whom openly accused him of being a provocateur. Ben-Artzi replied: "I came here so another opinion could be heard. The rest of Israel's children are just as important as Gilad."

Amnon Meranda contributed to the report