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Gilad Shalit freed in Israeli-Palestinian prisoner
swap
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit has
arrived back in Israel following his release from five years' captivity, as part
of a prisoner exchange deal.
Sgt Shalit was taken from Gaza to Egypt, and then to an airbase in Israel
where he was reunited with his family.
Meanwhile the first of 477 Palestinians to be released have arrived in Gaza
and the West Bank, amid jubilant scenes.
Another 550 jailed Palestinian are to be freed next month under the deal
between Israel and Hamas.
Sgt Shalit, 25, was seized in 2006 by Hamas militants who tunnelled into
Israel.
Early on Tuesday he was taken to the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt,
and handed over to Egyptian mediators by Hamas, in the presence of Israeli
representatives.
It's rare for both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories to be
celebrating anything on the same day. But both sides feel like they have got
something out of this prisoner swap.
Gilad Shalit has been described as "Israel's son". Nearly every family sends
their children to do military service in Israel and so Sgt Shalit's capture
resonated with every mother and father in the land.
The prisoners being released into the West Bank and Gaza are seen by many
there as heroes of the resistance to Israeli occupation. But when the
celebrations are over the problems will remain.
In the zero-sum game of Palestinian politics, this swap does not bring a
peace deal closer. It strengthens Hamas and weakens Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas - the only one who can negotiate with Israel.
In his first interview, Sgt Shalit told Egyptian TV he
missed his friends and family. Looking drawn and pale, he said he hoped the
exchange would help bring peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
Sgt Shalit was then transferred to the Kerem Shalom crossing between Egypt
and Israel.
He made a phone call to his parents and was later flown to Tel Nof airbase,
where the family was reunited.
Initial medical examinations found Sgt Shalit to be in a stable condition.
At Tel Nof he was met by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said
the release was an "exciting moment" but also "very difficult" as the price -
the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners - had been "heavy, very
high".
Mr Netanyahu added: "I want to make it clear: we will continue fighting
terrorism."
Sgt Shalit is to have further medical checks. If he is declared fit, he will
be flown with his family to northern Israel and escorted to his hometown of
Mitzpe Hila.
Meanwhile, about 180 of the 295 Palestinians due to be sent to Gaza have
arrived in the territory.
Celebrations to welcome them have begun, with an estimated 200,000 people
gathered in Gaza City.
Key initial releases
- Nasser Iteima: Helped bomb Netanya hotel in 2002 - 30
people killed - Walid Anjes: Helped bomb Moment cafe in Jerusalem in 2002 -
11 people killed - Yehia Sanwar: A founder of Hamas militant wing. Serving
multiple life sentences - Jihad Yaghmour: Took part in execution of Israeli solder
Nachson Waxman in 1994 - Mohammed al-Sharatha: A leader of the elite Hamas 101 unit.
Multiple life terms - Nael Barguti: Arrested in April 1978 and convicted of role
in death of Israeli soldier - Rawhi al-Mushtaha: Senior Hamas leader. Multiple life
sentences - Amna Muna: Serving life for luring Israeli teenager to his
death
The former prisoners first crossed by bus into Egypt
from Kerem Shalom, before being met at the Rafah crossing by relatives and
friends, as well as Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya.
Early on Tuesday, they had left a prison in the south of Israel, while a
smaller group left another in the centre of the country - both under heavy
security.
A number of senior Palestinian prisoners have been left out of the deal -
which was brokered by Egypt.
The BBC's Yolande Knell at the Rafah crossing from Egypt says relatives of
those to be freed have been waiting there overnight.
One man said he was "very happy" his cousin would be let out after more than
30 years but was "very angry" that he was being moved to Gaza, which is under an
Israeli blockade.
He said: "They will come from one prison to another prison."
About 40 of the Palestinians released on Tuesday will be flown to host
countries including Turkey, Syria or Qatar.
Other prisoners have been taken to the West Bank, where they were met by
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas.
Addressing a cheering crowd in Ramallah, Mr Abbas praised the former
detainees as "freedom fighters" and said more Palestinian prisoners would
eventually be freed.
Sgt Shalit was a 19-year-old tank crewman when he was captured in June 2006.
His family lived in a protest tent in Jerusalem for 16 months while they
campaigned for his release.
BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says Israelis who send their children to
the country's conscript army identify strongly with the Shalit family's
pain.
However, our correspondent adds, Israel has paid a high price for Sgt
Shalit's freedom.
Many of the Palestinians being released were serving life for killing
Israelis with bombs and bullets.
Mr Netanyahu wrote a letter, released by his office, to bereaved Israeli
families telling them: "I understand the difficulty in accepting that the vile
people who committed the heinous crimes against your loved ones will not pay the
full price they deserve."
