Israel Stung by Word that Terrorist who Killed Army Officer was Freed in Shalit Deal

In a stark manifestation of a fear expressed by many Israelis, it was announced on Monday that the terrorist who murdered Baruch Mizrachi, an army officer traveling with his family to a holiday meal on the eve of Passover was killed by a Hamas member who had been released from jail along with 1,026 others in the deal that brought captured soldier Gilad Shalit home in 2011. In response, a former head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency tweeted that the percentage of those released in such deals who return to terror has “always been very high.” Yuval Diskin wrote that each lopsided prisoner release has led to new periods of violence, including the first and second Intifadas (“uprisings” typified by suicide bombings and attacks on civilians). Public opinion has been strongly against releasing prisoners as was seen with the Kerry peace process for which Israel promised to set free 104 detainees but in the end held the final 26 back. The father of Gilad Shalit felt pressed to issue a statement saying his family had no input into deciding which prisoners would be released when his son was repatriated. Prime Minister Netanyahu has ordered the family home of the terrorists who killed Mizrachi to be destroyed.