Know thine enemy

If true, I am appalled that we even offered 900-1,000 bad guys for Shalit. There must be no negotiating with terrorism. It only invites more terror. Tellingly, Hamas didn't even take this lopsided deal. It means either 1) Hamas is looking for a fight, and is not interested in a negotiated solution, or 2) Shalit is already dead, and they can't agree to any solution.

Egypt: Hamas turned down offer to exchange prisoners for Shalit
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent, and Reuters

Hamas turned down an Israeli offer to free between 900 and 1,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for captured Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abu Gheit said Monday.

"Egypt succeeded in securing a swap deal with Israel to free [Palestinian] women, children, elders and those who have been serving long prison terms in exchange for the soldier," Abu Gheit told Al Arabiya television.

"A deal that could have guaranteed freeing 900-1,000 prisoners - but sadly they have decided to keep holding him [Shalit]," said Abu Gheit.