"Al-Haya said that his movement continues to insist on its prisoner release demands, adding that Israeli stubbornness in the face of Hamas' stipulations could torpedo the swap." Oh, this "swap" was never going to come about. Even if Israel had agreed to release everyone on Hamas' list, Hamas (being Hamas) would have found another reason to torpedo the "swap" The fact is, as we all know, Hamas has no intention of giving up their trump card. Ever. So, what's the justification for not destroying the cancer that is Hamas? Shalit is NEVER going to be repatriated, and we know it. Either extract him, take Hamas' leadership hostage and demand the release of Shalit in exchange for the Hamas leadership, or stop posturing and destroy Hamas root and branch. Enough has been far too much. Isn't it high time that Hamas and HIzbollah and all other Palestinian terrorist groups learn that kidnapping Israelis -- civilians or soldiers -- will be met with a harsh and most unpleasant response from Israel. The only way to ensure that no more Israeli soldiers will be kidnapped is to show just how costly such a move will be. Time to make it costly.

the people who attacked Israel in every war and who want the Israeli Golan back? Just start assassinating hamass leaders and let them come to Israel pleading for their lives.

That is all this is. A couple of months ago, Israel grew quiet and almost seemingly resolved about the imprisonment of Gilad Shalit. This exercise is to demonstrate how easily Hamas (and Iran) can manipulate the public's will and take the temperature of how to negotiate at any particular moment. Afterall, what is the use of having a bargaining chip if nobody cares? The most heightened the emotions run about him the more he is worth. It works and that is okay, because like many people I grew alarmed that there seemed to be some sort of resolve about him which became almost palpable around September. The down swing for Hamas in this regard is that if this deal does not materialize, they stand to lose the "independents" who could vote either way in whether or not Shalit should be freed alongwith 500 pieces of Hamas garbage.

The free world makes a terrible mistake if it deceive itself into thinking this is not our fight. In the end, the Israeli people are fighting the same enemy: cold-blooded killers who reject peace, who reject freedom and who rule by the suicide vest, the car bomb, and the human shield. Against such an enemy, we should not second-guess the decisions of a free Israel defending her citizens. And we should ask all those who support peace and freedom to do the same. Let the world remember : http://xrl.us/bejqq3

release Palestinian prisoners in return for an Israeli one. After all, that locked up seven year old who threw a rock at a IDF jeep is 'Class-A' terrorist material. No way should we let that 'terrorist' return to his or her family and receive an education.

Thanks for the advise from HQ in LA,but dont worry you`ll be ok in LA LA land.

I wish that this nightmare would end already and that Gilad would be home.

get the best deal it can... afterall 1 Hamas POW is worth 10 000 Israeli POWs .. Free all our People Now.. Shalit can return home.

Shouldn't HAMAS secure the best deal it can for its people? Zionist... Their Attitude is entirely racist in the extreme.

...oops! Now what do you do? I know this to be true, because Israel's High Court outlawed the practice. The Goldstone Report also did not find evidence of Hamas using human shields, however they did find that the IDF routinely did so, contrary to the ruling from the High Court. And you might recall that the King David Hotel bombing that set the bar for such attacks. Maybe you should start taking into account that there are victims and extremists, on both sides...