FOR SHALIT'S FREEDOM, ISRAEL DOES THE UNTHINKABLE?

 The statement "never say never" climbed to an entirely new altitude today, Tuesday October 11, 2011, as the Jewish state of Israel negotiated and agreed with the Hamas "terrorist" Movement to trade captured Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, for 1000 of their own prisoners held by Israel. The Israeli cabinet hurriedly and overwhelming approved of the swap under the cloak of darkness. 

Icheoku wonders what the true worth of this particular Israeli soldier is that the Jewish state was prepared to secure his release at such a huge cost of its prisoners of Palestine origin? Icheoku says 1000 for 1 is such a disproportionate cost to pay for "the soldier to be reunited with his family in the coming days?" The question on every body's lips are - has Hamas suddenly now become legitimate enough as a negotiating partner of Israel when they have been repeatedly excluded in the negotiations for the peace process? Has their support for terror ceased? Have they renounced violence against the state of Israel? Have they agreed to recognize Israel as a state? What suddenly changed to bring about this Israeli's camaraderie with an otherwise "terrorist" organization? 

Be that as it may, Icheoku says If Hamas is now "a credible partner" and good enough for Shalit's negotiated release, may be they should equally be considered a "fit and proper" party to be invited to the table of the Middle East peace process? May be they could be the catalyst that will quicken the Palestine question, who knows? Anyway thank God for the shifting quicksands of the Middle East political terrain, triggered by the Arab Spring; and suddenly what previously was considered impossible have now become possible - Hamas negotiation with Israel? Icheoku says may the same channel as made Gilad Shalit's release possible be exploited for a lasting peace among the two biblical peoples of the contested Middle East neighborhood.