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.&#160;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.&#160;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.