By my estimate,releasing 1027 is a cost saving to Israel of a few tens of million dollars per year.This is money that can be spent on hardware to deter Hamas. In return,Hamas has saved the cost of only one prisoner,and judging by the state of Gilad Shalit on release,that would be a minuscule annual saving.Additionally,the prisoners released to Gaza have to be maintained.Hamas's aggressive capability hasn't been increased. I like looking at it in these hard-nosed terms because it shows that Israel has been strengthened defence-wise at Hamas's expense. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!

... that Israel can pulverize Gaza at will and turn it into a heap of rubble whenever we want? Sooner or later, we will want. I'm betting sooner.

Mr. Romirowsky's statement, in reference to the exchange of 1027 terrorists for Gilad Shalit, that a military edge and Jewish law cannot coexist is a misstatement of Jewish law. Jewish law generally forbids exorbitant ransom payments "as a precaution for the general good." See Git. 4:6 and Git. 45a. To state that Jewish law and military strategy are incompatible is offensive to observant Jews and a slight to the many observant Jews, including numerous officers, in the IDF.

Israel will be crying 'uncle' soon... TATA

Sarah ,you keep repeating the same old ,same old-the same as Salma.She is an idiot and you are not,but Israel will never pulverize Gaza.Too many people and yes ,regarding Israel's position,the US and the rest of the useless EU would put unbearable pressure on Israel.I don't believe that Israel can survive without US.Never mind this talk about nukes-just imagine what would happen if one was dropped in Gaza-Israel would have unacceptable casualties.The only way to defeat terrorism is go after them and use their tactics.In war there are no moral issues-kill the enemy that's all.I know what I am talking about from experience.At present Israel's leaders are not strong men.And don't tell me that Israel makes all political decisions without consulting the US.Obama has to go. And yes, I am a JEW and love Israel.

Israel won in the public opinion by comparing the murders imprisoned for their crimes and the young solder, ambushed, wounded and kidnapped on his own land, and not at time of war. Hamas got the ransom the same way like Somalis pirates. Quantity doesn't mean quality. Gilad Shalit even at the most difficult for him time in his forced by Egyptians interview called for peace. Freed prisoner to Gaza called young children to become martyrs. Time for Israeli movie makers to put this comparison in a documentary, and to do it as soon as possible while the objective decisions can be inscribed to the collective memory of our generation.

Are you representing Hamas, Fatah, Hezbollah, Assad, Ahmadinejad and Co.? You are more relevant for Haaretz. And try in you hate do not forget: Jews know what you are preparing. And they are ready.

8% of pales

60 years

...foreign coverage of this event has drawn a moral equivalency between Shalit and the Arab prisoners. The truth, of course, is that one was an innocent teenager kidnapped by thugs and the others are mass murderers. Watching the BBC, though, you would think that both sides deserved to be released.

Hamas had only one weapon with which to blackmail Israel -- Gilad Shalit. Because of his captivity, Israel has had to pull its punches when defending or retaliating. But no more. Now that Hamas has no captives, Israel is free to defend herself to the nth degree. And Hamas has nothing to prevent it. If I had only one weapon such as Gilad, as did Hamas, I would have NEVER traded him unless I had something else in the wings to control Israel. But then, Israel's enemies are not known for their brains otherwise they would have won at least one war, seeing as they outnumbered Israel by 10-1. Thank G-d they're idiots!

I have a different perspective, I don't live in the Middle East but it seems to me that Israel is the winner. I've actually heard quite a few people say that from now they will side with Israel, whereas before they just sat on the fence and weren't sure. They have changed their minds because they were really shocked at the state of Gilad Shalit, and at so many terrorists being released. That awful Egyptian interview actually opened some eyes too. I feel that public opinion has shifted, albeit slightly, towards Israel.