According to Haaretz:
How it happened / The breakthrough that led to the Shalit:
David Meidan, the top Israeli official in charge of Shalit talks, has been spending the last few days in Cairo, contemporaneously with senior officials in Hamas' military wing. Both sides agreed to show flexibility one last time in order to seal the deal.
On Sunday, Netanyahu convened an eight-hour Forum of Eight meeting which lasted until 4 A.M., a meeting the very existence of which was placed under gag order. Ministers who attended the meeting refused to reveal any of the issues discussed.
On Monday, the diplomatic-security cabinet was assembled to discuss the details of a possible Shalit prisoner exchange deal.
Despite all of those meetings, Netanyahu insisted on the deal being approved in the widest cabinet forum possible. At 6 P.M. Tuesday, ministers received a message informing them of an emergency meeting.
Some of the ministers were not even informed as to the subject of the meeting, with Netanyahu personally calling others to update them and ask for their support as the deal comes to be approved by the government.and from the folks who broke the story at Al-Arabiya
Israel has agreed a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas to secure the release of captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who will be “coming home” in a few days, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday.
“We have concluded arduous negotiations with Hamas to release Gilad Shalit. He will be coming home in the next few days,” the prime minister said in a nationally televised address.
Shortly after the announcement tens of thousands of people flooded into the streets of northern Gaza to celebrate the deal that will see Palestinian detainees freed in exchange for Shalit.
In a statement, Hamas said tens of thousands of people were taking part in celebratory rallies after a deal that is expected to see hundreds of Palestinians released in exchange for the captured Israeli soldier.Azay YOFFEEE - This is great that Gilad will come home....
Shalom
It's wonderful news that Gilad is finally going to be coming home, if this news report is correct. My only concern is about the precedent this sets for the future and the potential incentive it would create to kidnap more soldiers and use them as bargaining chips for the release of prisoners. Also, do we know who the prisoners to be released are?
ReplyDeleteI wonder about that second sentence as well... BUT, Shalit going home is important. I think that Hamas was planning more operations along those lines but we can obviously see how Hamas v Israel care about their own people.
ReplyDeleteFully agreed. Also, I know I come at this from an American perspective, where no matter how horrible the circumstances we would not release so many terrorists to release one of our soldiers. In a country that is much smaller, and where most serve, I understand that things are different. I'm curious if some of the other terrorist groups will fire a "congratulatory salvo," once again intentionally directing their terrorism at the citizens of S'derot, Be'er Sheva, Ashkelon and other cities within their rocket range.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I had the same reaction as Reuven. But could Hamas possible need more incentive to harm/kidnap Israeli Jews? They've already shown that they have no respect for the sanctity of human life. Perhaps now that the Palestinians are pursuing a state of their own, this is the best time to give in. Maybe the heightened scrutiny of the international community will keep Hamas somewhat at bay.
ReplyDeleteThe question then becomes whether Hamas can really be influenced by the international community. I don't think I've ever seen anything to demonstrate that they are capable of being so influenced over extended periods of time. Sure, it can happen over short periods of time, but after that it seems like they always have to do something to remind Israel that they exist and are willing to intentionally target and murder innocent civilians. This can happen either directly or through their proxies.
ReplyDeleteI am cautiously hopeful that Shalit will be released.
ReplyDeleteI think that we (the US and Israel) should never legitimate Hamas until, or unless, they change the nature of the organization.
But, if this does come through... if Shalit is released alive... it will make a significant difference in the attitudes of Israelis, chances are.
This actually does represent an important potential moment for future prospects for peace.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.
I hope so too...
ReplyDeleteKeeping fingers crossed.