Blurred Lines

Probably the best compilation video differentiating between Gilad Shalit and the 1,027 terrorists released by Israel.

(h/t Elephant in the Room)

Elephant In The Room

Gilad Shalit Returned to Israel

Israel and the Palestinians today began a controversial and lopsided prisoner swap in which Israel is releasing 1,027 Palestinians for a single Israel soldier who was captured in 2006.

Sgt. Gilad Shalit, the lone Israeli soldier, was taken across the border and into Egypt early Tuesday in an SUV filled with armed men who quickly returned to Gaza, an official told The Associated Press.

In first public comments on Egyptian TV, Shalit said that he is "very excited."

...

"I missed my family very much, I missed my friends , I want to be out, I want to tell people what it is I went through," he said. "I would like very much for the remaining Palestinian prisoners to be released if they will not turn back and fight Israel again. I hope this deal will help bring peace closer between Israel and the Palestinians and cooperation between the two sides."

Gilad Shalit's Coming Home.. Some Think Swap A Strategic Error

Hezbollah Wednesday praised as a victory for the resistance in Palestine a deal between Hamas and Israel to release over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the captive Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
“Once again, the resistance in Palestine achieved a great victory by forcing the arrogant Jewish regime to respond to its logic and demand,” Hezbollah said in a statement.

Both Israel and Gaza's Hamas confirmed Tuesday that an agreement was reached to release over 1,000 Palestinians in two stages, the first involving 450 to be swapped for Shalit, with the remaining 550 to be freed later.

“Executing this deal ... shows that the resistance in Lebanon and Palestine and other places in the Arab and Muslim world is effective in regaining land, freeing prisoners and preserving its freedom, dignity, and independence,” the statement added.

Hezbollah also urged Arab and Muslim people to embrace the resistance which it said had proved to be the “only means to regain rights, by freeing prisoners and land.”

“We, in Hezbollah, believe that such a victory forces the collapse of some people's illusion that negotiations and begging the international community or great powers could actually bring back any rights,” the statement added.

The Daily Star

Many, including IDF former Rabbi, think this was a foul deal for Israel:

Former IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier General (Res.) Avichai Ronsky

The former IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier General (Res.) Avichai Ronsky on Tuesday said that Israel should not have strived towards a prisoner swap that included freeing terrorists in exchange for Gilad Shalit. He believes the captive soldier should have been declared a dead soldier that cannot be reclaimed.


Speaking to Ynet, Ronsky claimed that the only right way to release Shalit was through military action and if that was impossible – to sadly accept the fact that the soldier would remain in Hamas captivity though he added it was "tough to say that".

Rabbi Ronsky explained his position: "You can't bring an entire country to its knees, that's just crazy. It's complete surrender."

...

As to the question of whether there would not be a huge blow to morale among the troops on the Israeli side when soldiers know that the IDF won't necessarily do everything to rescue them from captivity, Ronsky said: "Just the opposite. They don't want to be exchanged for terrorists; they want to be rescued through a military operation."

Ynet

Here is a Video of Gilad Shalit in Captivity Which Was Released by Hamas as Proof He's Alive: