By John Solomon
How the government's punishing of the exposure of official wrongdoing can linger for years
The shadowy Hamas military chief killed in an Israeli missile strike Wednesday had long topped the Jewish state's most-wanted list for masterminding a string of deadly attacks.
Nine months after he was freed from Hamas captivity in a lopsided prisoner swap, Gilad Schalit is emerging from the shadows — showing up at parties, sporting events and even writing a newspaper column.
Israel was wrapping up preparations to release 550 Palestinian prisoners late Sunday in the second and final phase of a swap with Hamas militants that brought home an Israeli soldier after five years in captivity.
Palestinian prisoners released in a swap for an Israeli soldier in October are racing to make up for lost time: Many of the 477 former inmates already are getting married, building homes or enrolling in college, even as Israel keeps a close eye on them in fear they could return to violence.
Israel's tough-talking foreign minister is taking on his most formidable opponent yet - the Jewish state's spy service, Mossad.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to execute a 1,000-for-1 prisoner exchange this month despite his frequently voiced opposition to such lopsided deals is seen by several Israeli military commentators as an effort to "clear the deck" before possibly undertaking an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to execute a 1,000-for-1 prisoner exchange last week despite his frequently voiced opposition to such lopsided deals is seen by several Israeli military commentators as an effort to "clear the deck" before possibly undertaking an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
A senior Hamas official praised the "strength" Israel showed in a prisoner exchange that swapped more than 1,000 Palestinian convicts for one captured Israeli soldier.
Sgt. Gilad Schalit returned home Tuesday from five years of captivity in the Gaza Strip.
Tens of thousands of flag-waving Palestinians in Gaza celebrated the homecoming Tuesday of hundreds of prisoners swapped for an Israeli soldier, and the crowd exhorted militants to seize more soldiers for future exchanges.
One of the largest prisoner swaps in Israeli-Palestinian history began Tuesday, as army Staff Sgt. Gilad Schalit returned home after Israel secured his freedom in return for the release of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners.
Relatives of Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks waged a charged debate Sunday over the planned release of militants this week in a deal to free an Israeli soldier held by Hamas for five years.
Relatives of Israelis killed in Palestinian attacks waged a charged debate Sunday over the planned release of militants this week in a deal to free an Israeli soldier held by Hamas for five years.
An Israeli soldier captured by Gaza militants will likely return home Tuesday, said a spokeswoman for his family on Friday, ending a five-year ordeal for his family and the country.
A Hamas official said Thursday that close to 200 of the 450 Palestinians to be freed in the first phase of a swap for a captured Israeli soldier will not be allowed to return to their homes in the West Bank, Gaza or East Jerusalem, suggesting a substantial number may face deportation.
"If they have work, a salary, an incentive to start a family and get established, the attractiveness of terrorism will be reduced," he said.
Freed Palestinians build new lives as Israelis monitor them →
"But Gilad also endured difficult moments when he missed his family," he said, adding that Sgt. Schalit looked pale and weak when he emerged from captivity because of the mental stress of his isolation, not a lack of food.
