Israel and Hamas prepare for prisoner swap

ISRAEL is preparing to release 477 Palestinian security prisoners today in order to secure the freedom of captive soldier Gilad Shalit following a landmark deal with Hamas.

The agreement will see Israel free 1,027 Palestinians in return for Shalit’s freedom in what will be the highest price ever paid by the Jewish state for one person.

If all goes to plan, it will be the first time in 26 years that a captured soldier has been returned to the Jewish state alive.

In Israel, the nation was waiting with bated breath to see the first images of the now 25-year-old soldier, who has been held incommunicado since his capture by three Gaza-based militant groups on June 25, 2006.

His family have been readjusting and preparing for the long-awaited return of their son to their home in northern Israel, after finally moving out of the Jerusalem protest tent they called home for nearly 16 months.

Throughout the Palestinian territories, similar preparations were taking place.

Today’s operation will see Israel freeing 477 security prisoners, including hundreds who are serving life sentences for killing Israelis.

The landmark swap deal has the support of eight out of 10 Israelis, with a poll in the top-selling Yediot Aharonot daily showing 79% were in favour and 14% against.

Among those opposing the deal are several families who lost people to Palestinian attacks, with the Israeli High Court yesterday hearing four petitions in a procedure which had to be exhausted before the exchange can go ahead.

The court has never overturned a government decision to free prisoners involved in militant attacks.

Noam Shalit, father of the captive soldier, was expected to address the court as a respondent to the appeals filed by bereaved families.

Yesterday Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to bereaved families in which he explained the rationale behind the deal. He said that as a bereaved brother himself, he understood their pain.

Israeli officials have acknowledged the deal will be painful for the relatives of those killed but said it was the best accord that could be reached.

In Gaza, the ruling Hamas movement declared today would be a national holiday.