Israelis back out of negotiations to release captured IDF soldier

Haaretz.com "PRC: Israel backs out of Shalit release deal at the last minute" by:Jack Khoury, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service 3/17/07 Government officials in Jerusalem denied reports saying that Israel backed out of negotiations with the PRC (Popular Resistance Committees) for the release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit in exchange for imprisoned Palestinian officials. According to Israel Radio, Abu Mujahed, a PRC spokesman in the Gaza Strip, said Israel backed out of negotiations at the last minute. Shalit, an Israeli soldier who was captured last June in the Gaza Strip, was a major point of contention during the war with Lebanon over the summer. The prisoner exchange Israel reportedly backed out of was set to include all the leaders of Palestinian factions jailed in Israel, including renowned Hamas and Fatah leaders. Mujahed said the PRC is waiting for Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's approval, but that if Israel rejects the offer, "we would then return to the starting point." The exchange includes plans to free prisoners, some of whom are serving life sentences, which was a major point of dispute in negotiations. The Palestinian negotiators refused to compromise on their position, and, according to Mujahed, Israel refused to negotiate as well, calling on Noam Shalit, father of Gilad Shalit, whose return was being negotiated, to pressure Israel into agreeing to the negotiations. He also assured Noam Shalit that his sons' captors are treating him humanely.
This is definitely a complicated issue for Israelis, seeing as their need for security and their desire to have Shalit freed are butting heads. At the time of Shalit's capture, I recall watching a TV interview with his father, who said he'd rather see the Israel defend herself as a nation than see them give up Palestinian militants for his son. In this light, I support Israel backing out of these negotiations, especially knowing that Shalit is in no immediate danger. While the circumstances are horrible, the negotiations were completely unfair, with Palestinians demanding the release of multiple high security and significant prisoners in exchange for only Shalit.