...is the only viable solution. Mr. Hamad's words about the absurdity of "blood on their hands" is absurd. Each time Israel has been soft to its enemies, the enemies behave in a hard manner - and vice versa. The conclusion: be tough and hard, always, towards the enemies.

believe me and i know that our leader ismail hananyia is right. it is always israil obstacle to everything, last year was too hot, israil, i cant get a girlfriend, israil, the days are getting longer and night shorter, israil, you see our logic says that it is all israil fault and you cant argue with that believe my

Excuse me, Hamas, but if you think 450 terrorists for 1 soldier is a fair exchange, then you must have been having a shwarma when they handed out brains. You are the obstacle. You kidnapped a soldier. You brainwash your youth into killers. Had you said, "Look, release the 100 least dangerous prisoners and we'll release Shalit, and then we can talk some more." But no, it's your way or no way. The only obstacle here is you, and the rest of the world knows it. Wake up and know that murderers will never be let out. They chose that path and will pay the price. To remove the obstacle, Hamas/Fatah must choose another path. But with the recent Tel Aviv Passover attack that was averted by the IDF and S-B, I think the world can see that Hamas is still in the obstacle creating business.

1. It would be a horrible injustice to the victims of these terrorists to release these murderers. 2. It would only encourage further kidnappings and hostage-taking. 3. It would weaken Israel's image in the eyes of our enemies. What we haven't heard are concrete threats to the Arabs which would pressure them to release poor soldier Shalit. How about, "If you don't release him immediately, we will ..........."

Thats why there will never be peace with Israel's neighbors and why Israel's God will defeat them. His people Israel are too stupid,suicidal and weak to do this ,but He will and all the survivors and nations will understand that Israel is here to stay and bye,bye islam.

Israel shouldjust grab Mr. Haniyeh and offer to exchange him for Corporal Shalit.

"OK - we kidnap someone and then ask Israel to release thousands of prisoners convicted by due process including those for multiple murder' what do you say ?" "yeah yeah yeah!'. Well we say 'no no no!". Shalit was 'kidnapped' as is not a prisoner of war. Releasing even one prisoner would send the message 'kidnapping pays'. Releasing no prisoners would end kidnappings. This is not brain surgery ! Release Shalit unconditionally and demonstrate that Hamas has entered the 21st century.

Push your opponent to negotiation table, give him unacceptable conditions (but filter them to the outside world to look like "O.K."), and when he declines, pull yourself out of negotiations and clame other side to blame for it. In that way, you will get moral authorithy in front of the world to do what ever you need to pursue your goals. Clever, Hamas, but it will not pass.

I don't see why Israel have to release so many blood thirsty terrorist for one soldier, Shalit is a soldier and he knows the risk involved so what I srael must do is to start killing one by one people appearing on the list so Hamas can choose to either release Shalit or to keep on receiving a body everyday. This method will stop the kidnapping of soldiers and civilians as Hamas will see that it works but for now with cowards still leading the country I only see disaster. Check the mission to release soldiers kidnapped by Isbolah, Israel lost a lot just to release two soldiers bu the lost more soldiers and civilians including damages. EXECUTE THOS WHO APPEAR ON THE LIST ONE BY ONE.

Ok. The counterproposal to Hamas should be if they can bring Israel the goose that lays the golden eggs. A reasonable demand if they want to see their detainees back again. That and ONE BILLION DOLLARS!!!! Who are these guys, Dr. Evil?

The poor, oppressed freedom fighters of hamas are right as usual. Those silly Jews' and their continued insistance on living and breathing is clearly the main obstacle to peace in the mideast.

That wouldn't surprise me in the least. You might have learned something. Exactly who illegally crossed Israel's border and kidnapped an Israeli citizen? Your people have zero credibility and have lost all international support. You have made your own bed. Now go lie in it.

If they kill any Israeli -the Government must be sued as accomplices to the murders.Whichever Govermenment it is . There is a duty of care to citizens . "We want our boy home" is no excuse to release all killers on streets. There must be a million other ways!!!!!

let's see, the terrorists have been threatening to unleash more terror in order to destroy israel, rejecting peace negotiations with israel (whom they refuse to even recognize), holding hostages for ransom, arming themselves to the teeth AND demanding that multiple-murderous terrorist masterminds be released. and when any non-suicidal country refuses they are suddenly accused of being an "obstacle"?!?!? i guess if these terrorists aren't smart enough to do the basic math, we can't expect them to understand how stupid they look and sound. oh well, i always said that the best PR against terrorists is the terrorists themselves.

..so who is this so called spokesman ? The principal obstacle is the chief of Hamas non other then Haniyeh !

"In the past, Israel carried out prisoner exchanges of Hizbullah members who killed Israelis," Hamad said, adding that the Palestinians were open to further discussions should Israel reject the present list. This is the can of worms a country, government, or leader opens when they agree even once to a terrorist's demands. They'll will use it as a pretext to continue to kidnap. Over and over again, it will never stop and the cycle will never be deterred. You cannot ever agree to any deal that legitimizes their cause. Once you do that, you might as well crawl into bed with them. If they were attractive, that may not sound so bad, but it's off topic and besides the point. Don't sleep with your enemy:)

(1) There are many more Israelis walking the steets of Tel Aviv freely with 'blood on their hands' than Palestininans walking the "freely" in the worlds biggest prison. So if we want to talk about prosecuting those who have commited violent crimes we should use the same standards for Israelis and Palestinians. I wish the Palestinians could arrest or target for assassination the war criminals that have served as Prime Minister of Israel. (2) Somebody on the board mentioned that the Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have "been convicted by due process". Please, nobody in the world belives this anymore. There are seperate courts for Palestinians. http://www.btselem.org/english/statistics/Detainees_and_Prisoners.asp (check the 'administrative detainees section)

What a rediculous statement from the head of a terrorist organization that kidnapped a soldier, refuses to follow international law, and has a charter to kill Jews. No wonder there is no peace, Arabs like this dont want peace, don t want coexistance, dont want to acknowledge historical facts, dont want to help their own people, just want to kill and complain. Want prisoner exchange? END The war and get prisoners back. Thats how the rest of the world does it.

are constantly set by the likes of Haniyeh and his terrorist gang who play tough and believe we will immediately wet our pants. NO to Haniyeh's arrogant demands of freeing vicious criminals and terrorists ! He and his ilk should make note of the fact that whenever these Hamas terror gangs cross into Israel they will face two options, either death or apprehension. No other treatment for soulless murderers. You want to play tough, just wait and see what tough really means. So, free Shalit for no ransom whatsoever and then only, maybe, people the world over might pay attention and even talk to you. But if you don't think so, and something tells me you don't, then you only confirm for the umpteenth time that you are a petty blood-sucking criminal.

Why was this article published ? What is its purpose ? Does anyone regard it as "news" ?

Hamas takes it's orders from the sadistic ayatollahs. They just finished putting the British navy through the ringer and now they're back to the Israeli arena. Iran pulls the strings in the ME like expert puppet masters. Look how they publicized this insane list of murderers and look how the PMs office had to publicize it's response. Olmert dances to whatever the ayatollahs play.

You should have read the talkback more carefully, #12. What #2 said was full of irony and sarcasm. Actually, quite funny and on target.

Exchange of these bloody terrorists for Shalit would only encourage more kidnappings. Also releasing killers of innocent civilians is morally wrong. Hopefully Israel will not give in.

The main "obstacle" is that Hamas will never accept, recognise or permit the mere existence of a Jewish state on what it perceives as Arab/Islamic land, irrespective of the Jewish claim which predates Islam & that of the Arabs by three thousand years. The above is clear from the Hamas charter and it is publicly repeated by Hamas representatives all over the globe. Israel will not lie down and die and Hamas cannot accept this. As per the PLO's "phased plan", orchestrated by non other than Mahmoud Abbas (Fatah), and reiterated by Yasser Arafat after the media circus on the Whitehouse Lawn in 1993, any/all territory ceded by Israel will be used as a platform from which to further attacks upon Israel until the remainder of the Arab world joins with the Palestinians in a final attack to eradicate the Jewish state from their midst. This is indeed the platform of the Saudi "peace" plan, the Hamas Charter, the PLO Charter and the mindset behind the kidnapping of Jews and IDF soldiers, together with such demands and statements such as those referred to by Haniyeh in this article. Since the signing of the Oslo Accord in 1993, the Institute Of Peace Education (Tel Aviv) has monitored EVERY broadcast of the Palestinian Authority's Television and Radio Networks and scrutinised EVERY statement released in Arabic by their Ministry Of Information. They have NEVER found in any Arabic speech or publication to the Arab people ANY words of peace ! Instead, they have discovered repeated Arab calls for a holy war and the absolute and total eradication of the Jewish State. Every means being called for to obtain every possible territorial concession from Israel, which is to be used as a platform towards that end. One of the most prominent prisoners that Hamas demands be released is Marwan Barghouti, who has been convicted of the murder of a number of Jews. Let me refresh your memory. The following is a recorded statement by Yasser Arafat on Nov. 8, 2000, to his FATAH and Tanzim militia leader Marwan Barghouti ;- "EVERY time that you hear me declare a ceasefire and a halt to the violence, IGNORE THESE DECLARATIONS ! You know that I am under heavy pressure from the United States and Europe. You should IGNORE this and CONTINUE. You should know that we are in a difficult financial situation because of the Intifada. We will not receive any more money from the United States and Israel will stop the monthly transfer of funds. Our only hope of getting money is from the Arab States. But the Arab States will not give money if there is not BLOOD. Therefore, PRESS, PRESS, PRESS !!!" (information sources;- Middle East Media Research Institute & Independent Media Review Analysis). Those with ears to ear and eyes to see will understand what is really going on here. Don't let the Hamas pull the wool over your eyes. They are sheep in wolves clothing. Believe it.

Its mistake on part of Israel, it captures notorious hooligans? They should be eliminated the moment they are seen? There won't be any kidnapping or any reason to negotiate any exchange. Today our one solder is in captivity, tomorrow hundreds may perish if those like Marwan and Abdullah Barghouti are released. The world to take a note of...they were so far saying “a group has kidnapped...” Now, a spokesman for Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh is directly involved in the negotiations for exchange terms! A legally elected Government is directly involved in act of “Kidnapping” and murder! How can Haniyeh or Abbas be tolerated, not they be labeled as kidnappers? Palestinians holding whole Israeli government as hostage, they are dictating terms and forcing Israel to agree to every thing in Toto, adapting pressurizing tactics by pushing ball in Israeli court by simply saying “Israel is the "principle obstacle" to finalizing a deal for the release of kidnapped soldier” Is there no one in Israeli government who takes decision to turn Gaza in to Entebbe?

Josef, what you have said is very true and has been a credo of ancient Jewish wisdom. This secret applies to all relationships between good / evil, honest / dishonest brokers. For example, if one acts nicely to a dishonest person, he will invariably become emboldened and reply more harshly while disagreeable words will result in a softened position. On the other hand, the opposite is true in dealings between two honest people, and the phenomenon can become a useful tool in gauging the other’s true intentions. If you think about it, you most likely will have experienced this in your day to day living. Why the Israeli government hasn’t learnt this truth is a mystery.

The UK got its 15 sailors back from Iran in 2 weeks through negotiations. Israel, with all its military might, has not been able to get its soldiers from Hezbollah or the Palestinians in nearly a year because it refuses to negotiate due to its stubborness and arrogance. Keep "refusing to negotiate with terrorists" and "demanding his immediate and unconditional release" and see where that gets you - NOWHERE, just like it hasn't got you anywhere in the past year!!!