Former cabinet minister and retired Israel Navy admiral Ami Ayalon, who is known for his affiliation with the political left-wing, told Israel Radio on Sunday he favors a prisoner release deal for the return of Gilad Shalit.
�We are now talking about a list of 450 that Hamas provided, and Shalit is worth the price. I am not blind to the dilemma and realize the consequences but we are talking about a soldier who we sent by us and we are responsible to bring home�.
When asked about paying �any price� Ayalon stated �I did not say any price and this includes my opposition to soldiers being killed to bring him home, such as a suicide mission�.� He added that a prisoner exchange deal is preferable over a mission to obtain his release; a mission that may cost the lives of other soldiers to obtain his release.
�I am more of an expert that most Israelis and I feel I am capable of estimating the terrorism that will result from the release of terrorists and this is not a simple matter than can be discussed in a five minute radio interview.�
Regarding Prime Minister Ehud Olmert�s position that protests and other actions by Shalit�s family and supporters harm efforts to bring the soldier home, Ayalon stated he does not share the prime minister�s opinion, adding it is the Shalit family�s �right and obligation to do everything to bring Gilad home since the government to date has failed in its mission�.
Ayalon adds he feels that despite the prime minister�s negative comments, the protests to bring Gilad home assist Olmert who needs the backing of ministers to obtain support for a prisoner release deal.
(Yechiel Spira � YWN Israel)
