We who hope and pray for Gilad Schalit's release from his Gazan captors certainly want him home again soon. But
not at any price.
However, now it seems that
the Olmert/Kadima government plans to continue to try to arrange a dangerous trade of 1000 terrorists for Schalit, even after elections tomorrow:
Pensioners Minister Rafi Eitan said that an agreement that will include Schalit's release in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners could be signed while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is still in office.
"From my experience, I know that it takes time until a new government is formed, and during that period of about six weeks it is possible to progress on the Schalit matter," Eitan said in an Army Radio interview.
In other words, negotiating a lopsided deal for Schalit's release will continue post-elections during coalition negotiations and governmental transition.
A massive release of terrorist prisoners would, as always, be a security disaster for Israel. Many of the released terrorists would return to terror and the terror groups would once again be emboldened by Israeli weakness.
Hopefully a different party will be elected tomorrow to lead Israel. Will the new leadership have the wisdom to reject a lopsided deal with Hamas, and will it have the courage to fight it even before it is finished creating a new government?
