'Hamas holding intensive negotiations over Shalit'

"hamas should be dead by now." - Harold Årmstrong Come now Harold, did Israel pursue the destruction of Hamas during Cast Lead? No. It did not. It chose to hold back, keep casualties low, thrash the civilians and their infrastructure and let Hamas escape destruction. Were Hamas destroyed the Israeli right, Likud, Kadima, and Yisrael Beiteinu would have no reason to exist. Labor would have no use for Barak. Thus Kadima and even Labor let Hamas continue to prosper during Cast Lead and punish civilians instead. Hamas is too useful to the Israeli right, and it's goal of no peace, no Palestine, no two-state solution, to be harmed. Better civilians die and Hamas escape, that was the decision of the Olmert government. It has been the decision of the Netanyahu government as well. Hamas is really useful to the 'no peace, no way' crowd. Thus it must not be destroyed. As was proven by Cast Lead.

"Hamas could surprise everyone with humanity!" - Lilly Don't count on it. The same kind of ruthless monsters control Hamas as control Likud. Shalit is far more useful to Likud as a captive than a free Israeli. And he is far more useful to Hamas as a captive than a free Israeli. Hamas and Likud - as is the norm, have the same goals and same methods. Hamas has never failed to support Likud, and Likud has never failed to support Hamas. So long as they do what they do, both prosper. That is why they always do what helps the other. So long as Hamas and Likud help each other by every action, then Fatah and Labor lose. When in the last 30 years has this not been true?

is a virtue. Instead of releasing 1,000 for Shalit Israel should continue to demand that he be seen by the Red Cross and be given the same rights that Israel affords their prisoners. If not, then enact legislation and start hanging those with blood on their hands.

A well worn joke about ME bargaining: An Arab steals two goats from his neighbor in the middle of the night. The neighbor shows up to complain, and the bargaining begins. Many hours of drinking tea. Finally they strike a deal. The thief gives back one goat. Both shake hands and kiss each other's cheek, both overjoyed at the good outcome.

Israel never leaves anyone behind. murderers can be free. we have many of them on this world a few thousand freed is nothing compared to a good man's life. Israel have never ever left behind anyone even after they were murdered. NO MAN LEFT BEHIND! CUZ IF WE LEAVE ONE TO KEEP SCUMS IN PRISONS WE RE NO DIFFERENT THEN THEM. WE DONT MAKE SACRIFICE. WE cant leave our brother alone

As in the days of Moses, when Egypt had to experience the afflictions, torments and curses from Hashem, before they let the Israelites go free, I am calling upon all to pray to Hashem to afflict unbearable torment (physical, mental, financial, etc) on these Hamas idiots and their families, until Gilad becomes such a burden, that they let him go free.

Another hump on the roller coaster of hope for Noam Shalit and his wife.

waiting for? Their next pay check?

For sure now is an ideal time to release Shalit, of course dependent on the release of those on the Hamas equivalent of the Schindlers List, and it will be somewhat of a propaganda coup against the critics who declare that Hamas will never comply in any way with the spirit of the Goldstone report.

I think people in the Middle East love to negotiate. They love to negotiate just for the sake of negotiations. Negotiations over Shalit release is becoming like the Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations. If the negotiation over Shalit's release is taking that long, it means the peace negotiations will for sure take for ever.

show your humanity to the world.

Using the Power Point Presentation and discounted cash flow analysis Hamas executives are hard at work over how to maximize their investment.