...Israel's banana republic of a government would fall the minute Bibi made a deal. Just like the three days that went by before Israel made the two well-deserved apologies to Turkey with hat in hand. Neither Bibi nor anyone else in Israel's government is interested in seeing Shalit free nor in seeing peace, both would bring down Israel's government. It is Israel that is not a valid partner, because of greed and politics, nothing more and nothing less. Just like Sderot is on the sacrificial block as a pawn, so too is Gilad Shalit used by Israel as a pawn. The illegal colonies take precedence over Sderot and Shalit folks, if you have not gotten that yet, then you are not paying attention.

What a stupid thing to write. He may not have freedom and much of a normal life, but rotting away? Stop being so hysterical, please. What? Is he a banana?

They have the same right to breath clean air, walk free, and not worry about the next meal. They use bricks made of mud to rebuild their shelters. They use wood fire to heat + sterlize the little water they have - and their basic food (if any) arrives through dark, unerground tunnels. Very soon these tunnels will be blocked by Mubarak the Horrible and Israel. Exactly who is "fading" and "rotting"? Gaza's children. Shalit is a human but he's also a soldier and a POW.

Stop the bulldung, cut the rhetoric and BRING HIM HOME!

Writing in the persona of Corporal Shalit. Rather a clumsy attempt to tug at the heartstrings. Care to write in the persona of one or more future victims of terror -- and rest assured there will be quite a few -- should one thousand terrorists and murderers are released, free to ply their trade again? Moreover, Hamas will never give up Shalit. He is their sole bargaining chip, and despicable scum that they are, Hamas knows it. By, the way -- it could have been Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo." It could also have been Hugo's "Les Miserables."

I think I faded in and out of consciousness several times while reading this drab article. I wonder if Gilad Shalit, after he is released, will consider suing Yigal Sarna over this terrible article?

the Palestinians. Your political leaders and Israeli military-industrial oligarchy need the common Israeli citizen to be in a constant state of fear. Your country will be dreaming up new enemies for decades. Your country will never find the peace it says it wants because if peace ever came the Jews who live there would get bored lving in a desert waste land and move away.

the so-called "religion" by holding him captive. He is actually keeping Jews alive as a thousand muslum terrorists are still in jail and not on the streets murdering AGAIN. If Bibi had good advisers they would achieve his rescue without releasing muslum murderers.

ITS LIKE GOLDEN CHICKEN WITH GOLDEN EGGS. *** at this point ! there are two golden questions ! WHERE HAMAS COMES FROM ? WHERE HAMAS GOING TO ? *** Afganistan Taliban America Palestine Hamas Israel Taliban made bomb show today ! Hamas is in silence ! therefor no mistake for now !

if they fade away it will be hard to shoot rockets at me.

He rots, he doesn't rot, no one knows anything because the Red Cross can't get to him. Eid al-Fitr, before, after, yes, no, Hamas is playing us like a fisherman with a marlin, the line comes in, goes out again, they will never have a trump card like this again and they will never give him up. Israel should offer the Gazans something like the American witness protection program: tell us where he is, we will go in and get him, you will get lots and lots of money, a home anywhere you choose, a new identity for yourself and family, and a future.

I have not forgotten Gilad I pray for him daily, and have done so since his capture. I believe the Lord God of Israel watches over him and will return him safely home

Brilliant suggestion. Kudos to you!

my friend ... in history of nations there were some people to pay the price of the future of this nation ..i think in gaza they know this fact .. but shalit is paying price for what .. a new futur a better one ..becouse of that he is rotting for nothing to israil but to palastinian with or without shalit they pay the same price

Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails have pretty good conditions, certainly not what Gilad Shalit has. The whole situation here is horrible.

Family visits, news, communications, Red Cross, etc. At present, there is no meaningful internal pressure on Hamas to improve Shalit's conditions; and Israel isn't doing what we could to change that. Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah-reverer (& Orthodox Jew) Advocate for Logic as Hermeneutic Halakhic Authority Welcoming All Torah-reverers (Jews & non-Jews)

You could have had it different. Hamas could have adhered to the Oslo Accords and agreements that have been negotiated and signed between the Palestinian Arab leadership and Israel. Hamas could have adhered to the request of the entire international community to: Accept in principle Israel's right to exist, adhere to signed agreements and cease all forms of terror and violence. Hamas as opted not to follow the demands of the international community, i.e. UN, EU, US and Russia and as a result, they brought their misfortunes upon themselves and the citizens of Gaza will continue to reap the consequences. One other thing, Shalit is not a POW. He was kidnapped from Israeli territory by a gang of common criminals. For this and the reasons stated above, nobody - and that includes your Arab brethren - will give a damn about Gaza until Gaza is purged of Hamas and is returned to more moderate and responsible leadership.

Instead of preparing lists of murderous terrorists to free (and inevitably murder and maim more civilians), Israel should prepare lists of terrorists to execute till Schalit is freed. There is no sane reason to keep captured terrorists alive for long periods of time. Upon capture, terrorists should be debriefed, to provide information to prevent other atrocities, and immediately executed.

will never free Shalite ..We have written thousands of poems and still our sons (fading and rotting )in Israeli Jails !!!

Yes, well, Ali, there is a slight difference here. Shalit was kidnapped by a terrorist organization while defending his country. He was in Israeli territory at the time. Your fading, rotting sons were trying to kill Israelis. In America we call that attempted murder or premeditated murder. In many states it warrants the death penalty. Some of your sons masterminded suicide bombing attacks, some of them drove suicide bombers to attack sites, some of them stabbed and shot Israelis whose worst crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When you are driving and a rock hits your car it is difficult to maintain control of the vehicle. If the window is open or shattered and it hits you, it is difficult to maintain your life. All Israel asks is to live in peace with its neighbors. Ali in Gaza, tell your leaders, if you dare (you could do this in Israel, but not in the Gaza Strip, obviously) that you would like to live in peace with your neighbor to the east. Tell them kindergarten children shouldn't get plastic rifles to prepare them to join the Izz al-Din Brigades, tell them kindergarten children should be playing with clay and wooden blocks. Then maybe you could help them decide which building to throw you off of, or which knee-cap to shoot out.

Let us firstly agree that we are enemies and each has his own story, I live in Gaza and I live the suffering, I am sure we are victims, two thirds of the people here are refugees, most of them still live in refugees camps in veryyyyy miserable life, they were forced to leave their villages and cities 1948 .all the gaza strip still live under siege and the daily killing of Israel .It is our right to fight to get our freedom and restore our stolen rights, we strongly beleive in this ,Israel withdrawed from Gaza and left it as big jail they destroyed the airport and keep all crossings to Gaza closed. those you call them terrorists we call them freedom prisoners all of them were kidnapped while they were living on their land defending their country, like the innocent Shalit was in a pecnic at Gaza Borders!! By the way your Name Haifa is arabic name means the girl of slim waste :o)