Editorial: A balancing act Monday, 17 October 2011 04:42

A balancing act is under way between Israel and Hamas over the release of Palestinian prisoners as part of the deal to secure Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit’s freedom. The consummation of a deal between the sworn adversaries after years of fruitless negotiations reflected the pressures facing both Israel and Hamas at a time of region-wide uprisings and a rapidly shifting Middle Eastern landscape. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously warned that a swap would free dangerous radicals and put Israel’s security at risk. But he acknowledged that Israel, which has become increasingly isolated amid the regional tumult, was faced with the stark choice of winning Shalit’s freedom now or seeing the chance disappear forever.

Israel issued a list of 477 Palestinian prisoners to be released as part of the deal to secure Shalit’s freedom. Under the agreement, Israel is to free a total of 1,027 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the release of the 25-year-old soldier, who has been in captivity in Gaza for more than five years. The list of 450 Palestinian men and 27 women was released on the website of the Israeli Prisons Service. The remaining 550 prisoners are to be freed within two months. If the deal goes through, it will be the largest number of Palestinian prisoners ever freed by the Jewish state to secure the release of just one person. It will also be the first time in 26 years that a captured soldier has been returned to Israel alive. Shalit was 19 when he was captured in June 2006 by Palestinian radicals who tunnelled into Israel from Gaza. Hamas released a video two years ago in which the gaunt soldier spoke of his love for his parents. The Shalit family’s tireless campaign for their son’s release has turned him into a national symbol. Following initial joy over the deal, Israelis have begun to ask questions about the lopsided price their government is paying.

Hamas has proved itself a pragmatic negotiating partner. By insisting on the release of prisoners from all  factions, it has regained popular support across Gaza and the West Bank, undermining the Palestinian Authority midway through its UN bid for statehood.  A notable omission from the list of Palestinian prisoners being released is Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences for murder. The issue of the prisoners is deeply emotional in Palestinian society, where virtually every family counts a member who has spent time in an Israeli prison. Israel says it is currently holding more than 5,000 Palestinian prisoners for crimes ranging from theft to infiltrating Israel illegally for work to carrying out deadly attacks. The swap has dealt a setback to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has long favoured a negotiated peace deal with Israel. The implicit message of the deal to the Palestinian audience is that Israel will more readily make concessions under pressure than in negotiations with Palestinian moderates.