In an Op Ed in the Jerusalem Post Palestinian Media Watch critisise Israeli Prime Minister Olmet for "giving in to blackmail" by asking Cabinet to release hundreds of Palestinian Prisoners. This is meant as a good will indication to Abbas.

Palestinian Media Watch cite a number of references showing how Israel's willingness to negotiate the release of hundreds of terrorists to free a single kidnapped soldier, or simply to have the bodies returned, is making kidnapping a standard practice amoungst Palestinain groups... and worse is making the release of dangerous people who later go on to kill Israeli children a standard practice in Israeli policy.

It sounds like a compelling argument. If Olmet was negotiating, it would be. But this seems to be more unilateral action. As such I assume he has free reign to choose those who are being released... and I hope and trust he'd have the sense to only release very low risk Palestinians who the Israeli security forces have now cleared. These people should be released anyway... why not now?

The logic goes like this: These people should not be in jail in the first place / have been their long enough for the crimes they did commit. They cost Israel money and take up space that real dangerous people should have. Releasing them is what any democratic country would and should do.

That doesn't negate the problems of releasing other prisoners, e.g. terrorists. Nor of prisoner deals leading to escalation. Israel should keep those who are a danger to society in jail. That is the bottom line of PMW's argument and in this they must be supported. Israel's justice system is second to none, but that is worthless if it over ridden by politicians.

People made the comparison between the kidnapped soldiers and the detention of Palestinians by Israel. There is no comparison. A kidnapped Israeli victim held by a terrorist group has no rights, no sentence and is being held not for what they did but for who they are. The lack of differentiation by some (particularly the British left, pushed in this direction by some local Muslim propoganda groups) makes the mind boggle.

Lets hope Olmet is chosing wisely and PMW is panicing too early.

UPDATE: No deal under pressure from the Cabinet and Shalit's parents.