Today’s 1:1,027 prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas represents a number of important shifts in the Middle East dialogue. Gilad Shalit was taken prisoner in 2006 after terrorists tunneled from Gaza into Israel to murder two IDF soldiers and take 19 year-old Shalit captive. Although Shalit was literally a few miles from Israel, the IDF was unable to successfully extract him, leading to a five-year campaign of vigilance and solidarity across Israel.
While his homecoming will be a national celebration, the ultimate effects of the swap won’t be seen for some time. There are about a thousand pieces to this deal but one of the biggest outcomes could be the likely future crimes of the released prisoners. [Read more…] about Unknowable Consequences: Israel’s Prisoner Swap