why negotiate on an amount of prisoner swap ? give everyone of them back. Israel will start saving millions as we will not need to pay for the education, food, electricity ....ect.. that they are using in our prisons. Let them all go home and see that they will be going from Heaven to Hell as they couldn't get a better life even if they tried. BRING GILAD HOME- BRING GILAD HOME

Aviva - you are living the fear and nightmare that every mother dreads who has a son in a combat unit. For three years, I didn't sleep and I couldn’t breath and I lived in fear of one of my beloved boys being kidnapped or killed. One is out the army, the other, still in. The worry is no less with just one. That awful dread faced by every mother cannot begin to compare to the real horror that you face, day in and day out, for three years. Gilad has indeed become the son of our entire nation. We all want him home and back with his family. I cannot imagine how it must feel not see him home on the weekend, wash his smelly clothes and cook him his favourite food. The anguish you and your family are suffering, is immeasurable – a grief that I cannot possibly comprehend. All I say to you is stay strong and NEVER EVER give up hope. You ARE a remarkable family who demonstrates dignity and graciousness. I will continue to pray he comes home to us soon.

HEARTBREAKING.

What does she mean by "help us prompt the current leadership to do what needs to be done and bring Gilad back home"? Does she expect Israel to simply capitulate to Hamas demands? That only puts other Israelis, including the sons of her neighbors who are serving, in greater danger. JFK famously said at his inauguration "Ask not what your country can do for you..." But that's what the Shalits are demanding, that the country do for THEM. I know many will call me callous, even heartless. So be it.

...the International Red Cross, the United Nations and the Arab League. These three orgnaizations must be held responsible for Gilad's well being and immediate release without any pre-conditions. And, incidentally, Rabbi for Human Rights that cares about the rights of others but their own people should be addressed as well as B'Tzelem whose members finally, after three years, decided that demanding Shalit's release is a humane matter (Rabbis for Human Rights have not even done that!!!)

Here is the answer: 1) arange a meeting with lieberman 2) Lieberman issues a threat to zohar and haniyeh that if shalit has or will be harmed, haniyeh and zohar and their close ones will be eliminated. 3)A deadline will be given to release shalit otherwise, top leadership of hamas and their dependents will be removed whatever it takes, whatever it takes. This will have more i mpact that the weakneed threats of the gutless duo olmert and his twin livni.

B"H Dear Aviva Shalit, I always shied away from writing anything about your son's case, because the stakes are so high. Your open letter to me too, nevertheless, now authorizes me to answer. So, I'll be short and say this: I don't think the Israeli people can help you. I don't think the Israeli government, whatever we might think of it, can help you either. Why? Because the ransom is unreasonable. There also is halacha (Jewish Law) on this. Jews have had kidnappings all through the generations. Your Gilad is not the first one and will not be the last, G-d forbid. Our Sages teach us not to pay more than what the hostage's worth, so not to encourage the phenomenon of kidnappings. The price for Gilad's liberation therefore should be 1 (one) ordinary hamas terrorist with no blood on his hands. As the price set for him by his captors is not one hamas operative, not 10x, not 100x, but a 1000x higher than what we are allowed to pay for him legitimately, it is my opinion that you should not write letters to us, asking us - in substance - to break our laws. Aviva, you should find a way to get through to the Arab people as a mother and bring your son home. Learn from your three years ordeal: there are certain things mothers do better than Israeli governments. Tell hamas that the release of your son is in their interest, that the world does not accept the kidnapping of soldiers, sons of mothers.

who cannot die everytime they see the sweet face of your son, a son without a grain of malice, which I suspect he inherited from both his parents. To use a boy as a bargaining chip - shame on both sides. I agree with one of the talkbacks: where is the Red Cross, the Red Crescent, Amnesty? At least the prisoners we hold hear from their families regularly and vice versa. Why is the unusually cruel treatment of Gilad allowed to go on?

They are armed thugs whose activities include the dispossession and theft of another people's land. Let us hope he receives more humanity from his abductors than what his people have been dishing out to the Palestinians for decades.

Let me preface my comments by first saying that what has happened to your son is a tragedy that no parent should have to go through. The cruel and inhuman suffering your son has received should have no place in a modern, civilized society. What you need to realize, though, is that by caving into the demands exerted by your son's captors, you set a precedent that jeopardizes the life of every Israeli serving in the Tzahal. For as much gravity and preciousness a single human life has, I refuse to jeopardize the lives of untold numbers of innocent children just like your son and so should you. Aviva, please help US, your nation, your people, to remain strong hearted and strong willed in the face of the brutality and horror we have continued to face every moment of our collective existence. In refusing to cave in to Hamas' demands, we tell those sworn to destroy us that we will not waver from our right to live as a free people in the land we have rightfully called home since time immemorial...

i didn't think so.

The people of Gaza elected Hamas to govern them, and they should suffer the consequences of Hamas' actions. Hamas was democratically elected and as such, is the legitimate government of Gaza. Therefore we should treat Gilad's captivity as an act of war against the State of Israel. Gaza is at war with Israel. Every day, Hamas (Gaza's government) and Islamic Jihad fire rockets into Israel. As we are at war with them, Israel should cut of Gaza's water supply, and inform Hamas and the people of Gaza that the water supply will be turned back on as soon as Gilad is returned alive and well to Israel. If Hamas wants to play dirty, so be it.

It does not take much imagination to figure out how Hamas is enjoying this discussion. Long time ago Rabbi Meir Ben Baruch the Rabbi of Rothenburg in Germany was kidnapped an a ransom was asked. He forbade to pay not to give an example for future crimes.

Dear Aviva, Although I will not be able to come to the demonstration today,I will be there with my spirit and intentions. I send you all my good willed energy so that our dear Gilad will be releases NOW, and that this agonizing wait will come to an end. Amen