Israel must make and execute policy independent of what Obama wants because what he wants today he will criticize tomorrow. Jimmy Carter was the father of modern day Islamic terrorism and Obama is his star student. Obama will sell out Israel and see millions of Jews die.

israel should pressure Redcross, if they can not contact gilat, they have to leave all israel. No more red cross contact to the arabs in israeli jail. Same right for everyone. and how you feel redcrosser in israel to do only one sided. Is this so writen in the red cross carta. Shalom and try to be suddenly fair to gilat.

Finally - laying it out there for the world to read. Most of the US Congress and all of Obama are neophytes when it comes to these sort of deals, so of course it makes perfect sense that they would dictate action.

Gilad is a tough issue for israel. Arabs love to torture israel by holding its people prisoner, as life means nothing to arabs- a dime a dozen. shalits understandably would go to the end of the world for their son as most people would and they have done so. The deal that hamas wants similar to hezbollah on regev is lopsided and evil to israel. Nonetheless, Israel has to persevere. I told haaretz and ynet journalists and olmert long ago to take top hamas adn their relations captive for a trade-zohar, hanieya, musri . But no Benn, levy, barnea, shavit, they all know better those olmert cowards. No, olmert the intelligent one as hebrew university described him not only flunked at war, he also brought home dead bodies. I would have put a bullet in kuntar's head upon seeing regev's casket. No, olmert the crook knows better. he will give back all lands and life will be fun, no rockets and arab love. Yes, what a beautiful life! Haaretz helped elect this monster PM. They now got lieberman in return who is a breath of fresh air. You want the bottom line---here it is. Jews in europe hoped for the best, prayed to hashem, and discussed what to do and then entered the ovens. Bielski took to the forests, fought, killled 200 nazis and survived the war. Yes maboux or whatever his name in dubai was taken out perhaps by fatah to frame israel. But he met his fate. And if someone replaces him, and maybe more diabolical like nasrollah, so be it. Israel cannot stand if its citizens are killed without reply. Thousands of israelis are dead or maimed because of oslo, peres, haaretz and olmert. trying for peace was necessary but not when the results are in. Lieberman will be come PM and perhaps all out war will happen. And israel will fight to the death and deal a savage blow to its enemies. It will not beg for peace like marcus,levy, amir oren, verter and the rest of these pathetic journalists-cowards the pack of them.

Of course the rules are sometimes bent, as in the Iran-Contra scandal. Surprising the US has not criticized Israel in the past over this, but of course the US is answerable to an extremely influential domestic Israel lobby.

"The United States is hindering a prisoner swap for abducted soldier Gilad Shalit," If this is true it is criminal and disgusting. We should do our own thing and not be dependent on the USA for actions that they have no interest in, or care about, anyway.

big, bad villain in this wretched drama, eh? But of course those pointing fingers would be directed toward us, sooner or later. Tradition & habit finally, inevitably, coming into play.

As horrible as the real truth is Mr. Shalit., your son, nor any other son is worth all the violence his release will return to the people of Israel. He is a soldier, and as such swore an oath to his country to protect and defend unto death. Mr. Shalit, it may have to be this way. The article says the US is holding up the release of Gilad. I think this is not only ridiculous, but impossible. If you sir, were responsible for the results of your sons release under the present terms and conditions, you would be responsible for the return of terrorists that not only already have blood on their hands, but will almost certainly return to kill again and again. No single human being is greater than the sum of many human beings. It is an ugly truth, but truth nonetheless. Israel has made this devastating mistake before, and it sowed a river of pain and blood behind it. We in the US lose precious lives every day in our effort to rid the world of terror and dictatorship. We will continue to pray for Gilad, but no Mr. Shalit, the right thing is not to free your precious son regardless of the consequences. To blame it on the US is a falsehood of epic proportions. As a father, I can only express the hope this will end up with him coming home. I fear this will not be the case. Forgive us for these truths.

You know VERY WELL how many Jews have been killed by Arab Terrorists released in past so called "PRISONER EXCHANGE" Problem is that captured terrorists traded in past didnt just go home to ordinary lives,but quadrupled their zeal to avenge and kill MORE Jews.

as some think! One needs tosee the whole picture of multiple causes and effects. It is not just free gilad-release terrorists-more people die. It is about assassinating murdering terrorists that roam freely from one country to the next planning the funding for the next terror attack. It is putting pressure on palestinan prisoner families by preventing visits, books, tVs, education etc that they receive in Israeli jails. It is constant intelligence following the evil doings going on in various places... It is an entire network of interconnected issues. Every Israeli soldier also needs to know that his country will always bring him home, otherwise the loyalty and love he feels will cease to exist. A parent cannot raise a healthy child if he disappears on him in times of worst trouble. It is the worst from of betrayal.

We all have seen how INTERPOL is called in to arrest Israel who is already deemed to have EUTHENASED that vicious terrorist Maboo ,who laterly bragged how he, (dressed as a RELIGIOUS JEW ),Kidnappedc and Murdered the two Soldiers of Israel How the Judges of the International Criminal Court are called to their BENCH to try Israel for euthenasing him. So why let a THOUSAND LOOSE on Middle East Streets in exchange for Shalit. NEVER EVER EXCHANGE SHALIT FOR THESE SCUM OF THE EARTH If US is hampering deal ,then my heartfelt and joyful thanks to the US. US here shows more insight than the pitiful idiots who want to save Shalit so another unlimited number of our brethren can be murdered in Pizerias or on Seder night or in Dolphinarium or Mikes Bar or on Buses or in Malls They countenance exchange for Shalit so Arab Terros can hunt us (as they DAILY SWEAR TO )with approval of the so called "world"

This is basic policy for the US government, yes, and it would be the stock answer that we would give if we were like forced to answer. However people still lose, so it is not that great of an answer. The goal would be to have solutions in which good prevails and innocent people live happily.