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France, Germany call for Shalit's release
Reuters
Published: 17.06.11, 22:51
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27 Talkbacks for this article
1. France & Germany should mind their own effing business...
(06.17.11)
2. NO! NO! NO
Kayla ,   Florida   (06.17.11)
I want Gilad Shalit home. I want him safe. I want him with his family and loved ones. But please, not for 1,000 PA prisoners. Yes, his life is worth so much more than them. However, this action places more soldiers and civilians in danger and rewards the kidnapping, terrorism, and other atrocities by those who want to destroy us. One live prisoner for one live prisoner. That's it. And may Gilad be home safely and in a good way with his family and loved ones soon.
3. How bout this:
seth bullock ,   south dakota   (06.17.11)
Exchange one and only one low-level Arab prisoner for Shalit or bomb Hamas targets everyday. Perhaps extend the blockade of Gaza to include humanitarian wares, which the Arabs have not been lacking.
4. dont
mike ,   Phila PA USA   (06.17.11)
i hate to say it, but there shouldn't even be talks about exchanges. if those animals see that kidnapping works then a lot more will be kidnapped.
5. So sad
Dale ,   USA   (06.18.11)
No reason to hold onto Shalit. Hamas has no honor. They are cowards. They can only survive by hiding behind innocent women and children. People like this are evil in character. No more hope for Shalit. Have a funeral for him and move on. You will never see him again.
6. the lesson here is
jim gibson   (06.18.11)
The lesson here is that Israel should avoid taking live prisoners at all cost. Shoot them but don't keep them in your jails. More kidnappings will follow if you do this deal. I want Shalit home, but think about the disaster which you are creating right now.
7. I bet you would've say the same if your kid was kidnaped
Yair   (06.18.11)
8. Carter TEACHES hamas well
CK Tan ,   Singapore, Singapore   (06.18.11)
At his website, carter describes his 2008 meeting with Khaled Mashaal and his fellow Hamas politburo members : "We discussed items on my agenda that included.... FORMULAS for PRISONER EXCHANGE to obtain the release of Corporal Shalit." (my EMPHASIS) Just as he TAUGHT Arafat on how to REPACKAGE the latter's image from a TERRORIST outfit to a victimised PEACE-LOVER. So I am GUESSING the formulas do NOT have a figure that is below 1,000.
9. Sarkosy and Merkel should ask for the release
lydia ,   Brisbane   (06.18.11)
of the 000s of Palestinian incarcerated in Israel 'Abu Graib', without trial including the members of the legitimately elected Palestinian Government. They should also demand Israel end its illegal occupation in blatant violation of 250UN resolutions.
10. #1 TAKE YOUR OWN ADVICE
BEN JABO ,   iISRAEL   (06.18.11)
11. Time that we finally realized
BEN ABO ,   ISRAEL   (06.18.11)
That no offer will meet Hamas' demands Their intention is to string this out for maximum propaganda and extortion value It's like holding a carrot in front of the donkey, fooling the donkey into believing that he'll get the carrot as his reward for schlepping the cart
12. I agree with 2, 3, 4
Jonathan ,   Brooklyn, USA   (06.18.11)
One-for-one exchanges only. Anything else only guarantees future hostage taking. I hate to say this, but it's for the sake of preventing hostage taking in the future.
13. I hope the Schalit family will direct their anger at Hamas!
Rachelr ,   US   (06.18.11)
They're the ones who kidnapped your son and refuse to let him go.
14. I disagree
Alon ,   Israel   (06.18.11)
Yes, releasing 1000 prisoners for 1 is a bit drastic. But I think it's what we'd all want our countries to do for us, so we can't expect them to do something different for someone else. If Palestinians are peace lovers, and strive for a better solution, they will not kidnap more. Kidnapping is an act of war, and should be recognized as such by the Israeli government AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. Israel doesn't kidnap palestinian soldiers, or civilians - we arrest criminals. And they're taken care of better than homeless people and elders do, believe me. It's ridiculous that this kid was 19 when he was kidnapped, and now he's 25. He doesn't know what facebook is. He's a boy of the free world, and we need to get him back. We'll deal with future kidnaps when they come our way, with either force or diplomacy. But leaving him there... it'll tear the heart of the entire nation, demoralizing us. Having Gilad back means winning a fight. If another soldier gets kidnapped, it's another fight to win. Leaving him there means either losing, or falling asleep in the middle of a fight. And this is worse than anything else you can ever imagine.
15. surprise surprise, hamas never intended to free him
n   (06.18.11)
gilad shalit is an insurance policy for hamas - once they free him (for any amount of terrorists) israel may once again take the gaza strip by military force (the only logical thing to do, considering israel gave it for free, intending to show good will and make a step for peace, and in exchange got the qasam and other rockets and mortars). hamas will never free gilad shalit unless they are forced to do that (by israel, by the arab world or by the western countries). certainly, not by some agreement or "deal" with them.
16. #9 lydia - so WHY didn't they ask?
CK Tan ,   Singapore, Singapore   (06.18.11)
Cos they are SANE rational PEOPLE and NOT demented PARROTS.
17. Hamas will never let this go.
noa ,   israel   (06.18.11)
They have so much power in doing this. But it doesn't stop their leaders from being targeted and killed. It didn't stop retaliation on Gaza for Sederot bombings. Pathetic, it is the only power they have.
18. What did they talk about the pal hostages
camron ,   Thailand   (06.18.11)
He is a prisoner of war ..What was a French citizen doing in Gaza at time of war ? Has France ever helped Palestinians or ever condemned the double standards ? its good that they can just talk ... No pal hostages no Shalit , He is not so special - take the price to 10.000 pals in isreal jails to 1 man - then when agreed take it hight to 100.000 until will be be a fair price -
19. Substance or Words?
Mark ben Josuf ,   USA   (06.18.11)
So Germany & France made a joint statement. Have they made some substantive offer or are these just words? Reports are that Netanyahu made some "better" offer than Olmert. Again, substantive or just words? Some Israelis taught Sarah Palin Gilad Shalit's name at the Rolling Thunder rally in DC. At least now she knows his name. But probably has no clue who Bowe Bergdahl is. Haaretz gave Bowe Bergdahl more media attention last month than the entire US electronic, broadcast and print media has in the past two years. And they did it only in the context of Gilad Shalit. Yes, Gilad Shalit is a POW. And POW exchanges are tricky. Israel adds to its stock of POWs daily. And someday, some Israeli government will want to end that practice and negotiate peace instead of dictating terms. Shalit may be old and gray by then. Or maybe it will happen earlier. Meanwhile politicians will mouth words.
20. Gilad Shalit
L.c.Lentin ,   South Africa   (06.18.11)
With all the bargaining, we still have no proof that Gilad is still alive.hamas is doing all it can to keep his name 'alive',but will not (or can not),offer anything further
21. Just forget about Shalit if we dont want 1000 murderers killing us later
Alan ,   SA   (06.18.11)
22. Meet and mete righteously.
Jerusalem   (06.18.11)
It could have to be dealing with the "bigger picture". Simply said, it is a very good "deal". There may be an underlying issue to prisoners in general, of course the ones with blood on their hands, the treatment of prisoners, the reasons they are incarcerated, the prison sentences, they systematic arrest of individuals, the way they're arrested, etc. In the end, it's a matter of getting all this dung straightened out. They may be holding out for that which is long overdue. If only "they" would meet here on the land to discuss everything. There are tremendous amounts of money being funneled to this land by NGO's, UN agencies, non-profit agencies, union countries, union states, etc., you get the drift. In the midst of this turmoil, this is what you have. And still, "problems in paradise". In the absense of reaching an amicable agreement, different kinds of walls are erected. How did the corruption get here?
23. Israel don't release 1,000 terrorists.
Bless israel. ,   United States   (06.18.11)
just kidnap a few Hamas leaders instead.
24. Israel SHOULD Have Demanded This...
Edward ,   Savannah, USA   (06.18.11)
Israel should have made this their #1 demand to any "peace negotiations" from the very start, especially since the PA is now a "unity partner" with Hamas. There would have been no need for a 10 month eternal building freeze or any of the other stupid stuff Israel has agreed to. The fact that Shalit has been ignored as a point of negotiations by the Israeli government doesn't bode well for their commitment to their people. But considering what all has been done against Jews in Judea/Samaria by the Lukid government these past couple years, nothing will surprise me.
25. #19 Mark bJ and his SOUR grapes
CK Tan ,   Singapore, Singapore   (06.18.11)
Oh dear, Mark bJ is IMMENSELY unhappy over the call by France and Germany to FREE Gilad Shalit. So, he just has to DOWNPLAY the significance by DEMANDING for PROOF of "substance or words". Poor, poor Mark needs to be PUT out of his misery : OK, Mark, you are ABSOLUTELY, certainly, fully, completely, wholly 110% CORRECT. Happy now?
26. 16 Demented PARROTS like you think Hamas
lydia ,   Brisbane   (06.19.11)
will be swayed by Merkel and Sarkosy when they have a plump little Shalit who besides enlightening their cause to the World they can also trade.
27. It's nothing more than mere lipservice.
Lee ,   Manchester UK   (06.21.11)
they make me SICK!
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