Our government and security chiefs seem to work more for the benefit of the enemy than for the security of Israelis. Why aren't we taking to the streets and demanding responsibility for this deal. Whoever agreed to this deal deserves to sit in prison for life if one Israeli is killed by a freed terrorist. How many soldiers were killed and wounded capturing these terrorists? Why should any soldiers agree to go on raids to capture terrorists, if they know they will be freed in the future? Finally, if G-d forbid there are future victims of these freed terrorist, then the Shalit family should go the each funeral and each hospital bed and beg for forgiveness.

NO prisoners should be released until Gilad Shalit on Israeli soil and alive. The Palestinians have proven time and time again they cannot be trusted. And as much as it would be great to have Gilad Shalit back with his family in Israel - how many deaths will be on his head after the release of more than 1,000 terrorists, murderers and haters of Israel. And what about the survivors of the families of those who have already been murdered or the victims of these terrorists. It's time for us, for Israel, to take the offense and the hell with what "they" - the world thinks. WE MUST PROTECT OURSELVES. WE HAVE THE RIGHT AS A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY.

Why did you wait so long to make the deal ? i believe if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it . The truth is, the Palestinian People who have paid very heavy price had been waiting for and hoping for something better for prisoners and their families .

a minor victory for israel in this mess. i can't blame the shalits for fighting for his release, but this will probably lead to other families losing their children. pyrrhic victory

Yes well better that the soldiers share the time in captivity rather than one soldier spend his whole life a prisoner!

I think this deal is very important for the moral of the soldiers that know they wold not be let behind. this moral victory comes at a very heavy price of enhanced terror, but it is nevertheless, necessary. How can you send people to war if they are not sure they would be backed up no matter the price?

Family reunion under cruel and horrible circustances is surely one of the most honorable challenges Israel has endeavoured , If released Palestinian prisoners are found to be terrorists anew, surely they will be taken out. The return of Gilad to Israel will only enhance the collective Israeli experience and strengthen it's character and resolve. The palestinians will now have to share their pie with more of the same.An upside for Israel is 1000 less mouths to feed and watch over whereas the level of security and vigilence will continue to be at the same or higher level, If the Pals start trouble now....lookout , israel's reply will be suffocatingly heavy!

As an American Jew, and lifelong Zionist, I am ashamed today over this "deal". Have not we learned anything from history? Since when do we make arrangements with thugs, gangsters, cutthroats, terrorists, and psychopaths? Shalits captivity was unfortunatel, but he is one person. Now, this deal has endangered thousands of Jews. His family and opthers, as opposed to protesting Hamas..took their anger out on the govt. a big mistake. All this encouraged Hamas, and why not? What would the Russians have done, if one of their soldiers was in a similar situation? What would any civilized country have done? Why is Israel acting like good "ghetto Jews"? Why are they afraid of the gentiles? And what about the families of those Jews killed over the last 40 years..who are watching this farce? What should they think, their families died in vain? The 2 cousins indicted for the Fogel family murders..are watching and learning. Barghouti is watching..and cheering, knowing another kidnapping and he goes free. Barghouti killed 5 people...and gets life terms, instead of a proper hanging or lethal injection. Israeli leaders need to visit our prisoners in Arizona..they need to visit prisons (death row) in Rick PerrysTexas. And even in my state of California..convicts are at least in prison for capital crimes for life, waiting execution. . Israel in general needs to grow up. It needs to end its ghetto mentality and WW2 syndrome of being the victims. Now we hear that Egypt is violating the treaty..hard fought for by Israel in 73 woth 2800 deaths. What if Israel had lost in 67 and 73? Egypt had gas vans..and Syria emasculated the IDF captured. Israel needs to review its own history these past 63 years.

Sure this is a difficult issue, but we have a chance to release a brother held captive but still alive. This is a no brainer. Sure the price is hefty, but there are no shortage of Palestinians (and others) who hate us. Security will always be a necessity, but that doesn't mean we leave one of our brothers behind. Don't be brave with other people's children. You would be singing a different song if Gd forbid it was your child. No? Willing to trade your son for Shalit?

This whole affair puzzles mightily. It's like Israel shot itself right in the foot.

Noah - time to put up or shut up. Go to the LA aliya office and start the paperwork. Make aliya, run for office or join the party of your choice and work for change. Then you get to vote for it. We don't have any "ghetto mentality" here, and you are pretty damned offensive sitting in your cushy armchair in LA and telling us how to run things here. We run our own affairs here, whether you like it or not. Don't like it? As I said above - either put up or shut up. ps- as I recall, your United States of America has a long and ugly history of making arrangements with thugs, gangsters, cutthroats, terrorists and psychopaths. So don't pretend that you are a civilized country and we are not. You're the country that made deals with and supported Saddam Hussein and the Taliban. We're the civilized country with no death penalty, and as hard as that is for you to swallow it does indeed make us more civilized. Did I say you should put up or shut up? When should I pick you up from Ben Gurion Airport to take you to your new home?