[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

"Woe to the people that now celebrates the release of a human animal" -
including, perchance, "moderate" "peace partner" Mahmoud Abbas?

"the moral and ethical strength of the Israeli people...By virtue of that
strength, we decided to bring the boys home even at the heavy price of
releasing a reprehensible murderer." - This reflects an ongoing deliberate
and intentional self imposed avoidance of what Judaism's "moral and ethical"
position is on the issue of such trades. Judaism - blessed with a planning
horizon that spans beyond a news cycle - does not embrace the view that one
should "bring the boys home" at any price.]

PM Olmert's Statement Following the Return of Eldad Regev and Ehud
Goldwasser
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

Following is Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's statement today (Wednesday),
16.7.08:

"Today, the entire people of Israel embraces the Regev and Goldwasser
families in their grief. The eyes brim with tears and the heart goes out to
the family members who struggled without any signs and who never lost hope
until the last minute.

This is a day for removing doubts; certainly regarding the fates of Udi and
Eldad ( http://tinyurl.com/6c7mkf ), may their memories be blessed, but also
for the moral and ethical strength of the Israeli people.

By virtue of that strength, we decided to bring the boys home even at the
heavy price of releasing a reprehensible murderer. A foreigner will not
understand what every Israeli knows full well: Mutual responsibility, the
concern for the fate of every one of our soldiers is the glue that joins us
together as a society and enables us to survive surrounded by enemies and
terrorist organizations. Happy is the people that has these values. Woe to
the people that now celebrates the release of a human animal
( http://tinyurl.com/5bhmbg ) that smashed the skull of a four-year-old
girl.

Today, my heart is with the Goldwasser and Regev families. May the boys'
memories be blessed."