I hope Gilad and the Palestinian prisoners will be all freed and rejoin their families. However, this deal proves Arab fundametalist point of view to be correct, that Israel does not get into any seriouse negotiations unless they feel some pain and have some of its soldiers captured. I am wondering why Israel has not shown any flexibility in the negotiations with Abbas in relation to the palestenian prisoners and other issues! is it because Abbas has not captured any Israelie soldiers? Does Israel consider liberalism as weakness? Unfortunately, the logic of Hamas and Hizbollah seems to be more fruitful than Arab liberals. Any success that Hamas acheives through this deal is a big failure and another threat to Israel's future. Israel's biggest mistake is that she is only living in the "here and now" and enjoying its current superiority without giving much attention to what might happen in the future.

Reading between the lines and that is always tthe case where IDF concerned there is a high probability the IDF know where he is held. The stumbling block is getting him back alive. The next step is infiltrating the setup and my guess this is taking time but because the IDF and intelligence are confident a rescue can occur no deal is being done. Also the ego factor drives the IDF and they would dearly like a successful operation.

Israel freed 300+ prisoners due to Abbas's negotiation a year or two ago, which makes your conclusion incorrect. If you will add to that 2006 and 2008-2009 Gaza offensives your conclusion becomes even worst.

As i remember most of those you are taking about were criminal prisoners with small offences, not political ones. Even if i want to agree with you, which is more powerful, freeing 300 prisoners or 1000??!! I think numbers are more neutral than me and you so my conclusion is still valid. Maybe its you who need to refresh your memory and remember the negotiations between the terrorist Hizbollah and Israel in relation to prisoners, then you will understand what i mean. Those who twisted Israel's arm were the ones who got what they wanted, not the ones who shaked Israel's hand to make peace.

that is a major difference and Jordan does not behave as such too. So what do you suggest, we play the game their way? And gain what? Do you think the world would let us? It jumps at us for every thing, even the Arab friends in peace, say only in private but shout wildly amongst their Arab bethren? Play the game. Until a miracle.

Really? I honestly did not know that.