Olmert Offers Palestinians Mass Prisoner Exchange for Israeli Soldier

Demonstrating once again that he does not have the strength of will or the insight to govern, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert today offered a massive release of Palestinian prisoners in return for the release of kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit (photo at left). JTA reports that in a major policy address, Olmert said:

“With Gilad Shalit’s release and his return, safe and sound, to his family, the Israeli government would be willing to release many Palestinian prisoners, even those who have been sentenced to lengthy terms.”

Shalilt was taken hostage in a June 25 raid across the Gaza-Israel border by Hamas. Just as past one-sided prisoner exchanges with Hezbollah in Lebanon convinced Hezbollah to raid for hostages across the Lebanon-Israel border this past July, an exchange of Palestinian prisoners for Shalit can only encourage the Palestinians to attempt more such hostage-taking raids in the future.