17,038 sounds too high. This can't be terror victims. You mean war victims and terror victims totalled, right?

If someone keeps inside his home poisonous snakes and wild animals,and wakes up one morning to find his family devoured or poisoned,do you blame the wild animal or do you blame the criminally insane owner of the home ? of course we know the answer,and so did rabbi Meir Kahane and he begged us to do something about it,and for that he was kicked out of the Knesset Ladies and gentelmen the ones really responsible for these thousands of deaths are sitting around the table in the cabinet room of the Knesset,someone who is responsible for victims of murder should not be eulogizing them but should be locked up behind bars

or tshuva. "....the decision that has been made was difficult, it goes against the value of justice - everyone feels this way." When the cabinet acts unjustly in Israel, it is time for a new cabinet.

From my distant perspective in the diaspora I understand that releasing the terrorists was an alternative to stopping building development on the West Bank (did I get that right?) If it really came down to that (and why should it have?) then the former was far and away the worst choice for two reasons at least, (i) the anguish caused to survivors and loved ones of victims (ii) the encouragement of more acts of terror because the deterrent of imprisonment (if it is that) is compromised. Building development on the other hand could have been suspended and resumed at will when the talks failed as was inevitable. So yes, the government is justly criticised for placing its coalition interests ahead of the best interests of the nation at large.

According to Netanyahu, Yaalon, Livni, Peres and Lapid a terror victim is any Arab who saw offensive graffiti.

The bereaved families are absolutely correct. By freeing terrorists, Bibi is complicit in murder. That is why NO other national government deliberately unleashes butchers against its citizens.

I only pray that murders, thugs and terrorists will never be released back to there handlers ever again. This has got to be the most insane demand ever made of any country for any reason. To suggest it, to support it or to listen to it is totally repugnant and by itself is a criminal act that spits in the face of justice. The PA making heros out of those who attack woman and children for some perceived injustice are truly a sick group of people. Then to further negotiate with those that make these demands and suggest the release of criminals are important elements finding peace is a distortion of all that is holy.

By appeasing and not fighting back enough Israel just helps perpetuate the situation. The naysayers play on it as if by not absolutely and convincingly retaliating - routing the enemy - looks like it's unsure of itself...maybe there's some 'truth' to the lies...

He of all people should have a zero-tolerance policy

What damn Hutzpah to release murders and then have the g-d damn nerve to go to the families memorials for their victims....I am sick of Bibi and the other gutless, spineless chicken sh=t cowards and traitors in their sticking lousy arrogance. This is NOT Democracy...What the hell is wrong with out Military, are they all traitors to the Jewish People? And people wring their hands and cry that the kids are flowing away from this country....Shame on our Cowards in Office and our Media for becoming our worse enemy in the State of Israel. This is Jewish land and by G-d we will keep it....

His name is Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl he's from Idaho.He's been held their since 2009.The Taliban gave offered a much more reasonable exchange and Obama wouldn't agree.This same Obama ordered Bibi to release terrorists for a goodwill gesture.Shame on Netanyahu

The PMO and DMO of the GOI have issued orders accepted by those sworn to protect you that resulted in the destruction of more of you than those that come to kill you. BB and Bogie are recidivist betrayers of not just their party's charter, but the mandate of the office they hold through their fraudulent and existential hatred of their constituents. They never miss an opportunity to destroy those they serve by ordering those sworn to protect those they serve to instead destroy them and also denigrate,discount,diminish the memory of the efforts of those whose blood is sewn in the soil named for the people who love the land of their own name and BB and Bogie seek to demonize and destroy with every breath instead of those in your midst who come to kill you yet they arm feed train and release from "justice" into the midst their victims to act paw in bloody paw with the PMO and DMO to destroy you with an "Iron Fist!" It is clear that the Iron wall is not impervious since those that come to and have killed you, destroyed your generations are on both sides.

Joni was heavily armed and well trained. His death in combat was not murder, so a case for releasing that terrorist could be made. Bibi released people who shot little children or axed a frail Holocaust survivor in the back. That is why Bibi's actions are reprehensible. Bibi should not have appeared in public on Memorial day. He should have stayed at home.

... the released terrorists live when they get back to their forefathers' homes in - oh, i dunno - settlements like, say, the french hill?