This morning Gilad Schalit - kidnapped Israeli soldier for over 5 years in Gaza - has been released in exchange for 1,027 Palestinians in jail. Palestinian schools have closed for half the day in celebration. While majority of these prisoners are exiled to Gaza or the Territories, some who are less of a danger are allowed back home in Israel. One of them was an old man behind our house. The tiny street was packed with people chanting and waving flags as they carried the old man on their shoulders back to his house where his family was waiting.
This exchange is still a very divisive topic - most Jews want Schalit to be released but at the same time think that the release of 1,027 terrorists, some jailed for multiple life sentences is a price too high to pay. Whatever it is, the decision was made. It now is up to time to tell if it was a mistake or not.
Meantime my worries are closer to home .. like when shall I ever get my operation done? The strike is still on. This morning I coughed and sneezed out clots of blood. It's really making me sick.
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