Of course, other Israeli soldiers and civilians have been held captive in Arab states or abducted by terrorist organizations and other militant groups over the years. And Israel has been willing in the past to barter hundreds or thousands of detainees in exchange for the release of just a few of its citizens. But, for as long as I can remember, popular enthusiasm has never been so overwhelmingly supportive of such a deal as it is now, with the joy virtually exploding across the country after the news of Shalit’s pending release began to circulate.
Et Israël a déjà par le passé été prêt à échanger des centaines, voire des milliers de détenus en échange de la libération de quelques-uns de ses citoyens. Mais aussi loin que je me souvienne, l’opinion publique n’a jamais soutenu avec autant d’enthousiasme un accord de ce genre, le pays explosant de joie à l’annonce de la libération imminente de Shalit.