Ronald S. Lauder
President, World Jewish Congress

The release of Gilad Shalit is an important moment for the entire state of Israel. Every Israeli family has experienced collectively and many individually , countless acts of Palestinian terror and the Jewish public has lived with the nightmare of the captured Israeli navigator Ron Arad since 1983. Therefore the Jewish state is in a collective state of relief that it has returned one of it's sons from the unimaginably cruel Hamas enemy. The price that Israel has paid is extremely high and has created a deep and painful public discussion with bereaved families whose loved ones were murdered by terrorists released by Israel in the exchange. The World Jewish Congress has an important role to convey to the world the inestimable price Israel is prepared to pay to save a life, and the great additional dangers Israel, and by extension, the Jewish people have accepted in freeing the very terrorists that have murdered hundreds of Jews and other Israeli citizens.

Evelyn Sommer
Chair, WJC North America

After five long years of suffering, Gilad Shalit is finally home. We share in the joy of his homecoming and embrace those families suffering from the pain of the heavy price that had to be paid for his release.

Jack Terpins
President, Latin American Jewish Congress

The exchange of one hijacked Israeli soldier for over a thousand Palestinian prisoners, many of whom were convicted for horrendous terrorist attacks, reminds us a commandment in Jewish tradition: “When ones saves a life it is like one has saved the entire world.” It was on this commandment that the State of Israel based its decision to accept the deal with Hamas, even though this means that hundreds of criminals are being set free.

As so many times before in Jewish history, we can never celebrate an event in completely happiness, and there is always a degree of chagrin. To save one life over a thousand terrorists with blood on their hands were set free, and the murderers were even glorified upon their return. This showed us once again how human life is being valued very differently in different cultures.

Rabbi Yaakov Bleich
Vice-President

I think that the fact that the breakthrough came about the day after Yom Kippur speaks volumes. One of the prayers that is repeated throughout the day of Yom Kippur is a special prayer where we implore G-d "Avinu Malkeinu..

Bring an end to bloodshed, famine, captivity etc." I am confident that the unity of the Jewish people throughout the world, praying for Gilad Shalit's freedom is what brought about this tremendous breakthrough. As painful as it is to see so many terrorists freed, we must weigh it against the tremendous feeling of pride and strength that this exchange gives to every single soldier in the IDF. The knowledge that "No Jew will be left behind" and that the State of Israel stands behind all of their soldiers and will stop at almost nothing to bring our boys home is definitely an important factor to keep in mind.

The greatest lesson for the Jewish people is that when we are united we are strong. When we are united, G-d listens to all our prayers.

Let us hope and pray during these "Days of Rejoicement" at the beginning of this new year that we will merit unity, peace for Israel and a year of fulfillment for the Jewish people.

Roger Cukierman
Vice-President

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppé said, like many other French leaders, that he was happy about Gilad Shalit’s liberation. But he made – certainly involuntarily – a slip of the tongue when he called the prisoner exchange deal “a balanced agreement”. A strange balance: 1,027 Palestinian prisoners, convicted in court for terrorism offences, for one Israeli soldier who didn’t commit any offence! No, this is certainly not a balanced agreement!

However, this should not deprive us of being joyful about the resolution of this issue. The Israeli authorities obviously did not consider the prisoner release a military issue, and the worrying development of the Arab Spring required quick action. This was what one could call a window of opportunity, and it was necessary to act now in order to spare Gilad Shalit the terrible fate of Ron Arad. After five years when Israel couldn’t help Gilad Shalit, a price had to be paid now. It was a difficult, but a courageous decision.

Hamas has won the the release of 1,027 prisoners and shown that it is more effective than the Palestinian Authority of Mahmoud Abbas. It has become the inevitable interlocutor. In Cairo, Hamas and Israeli representatives even held talks in the same building, though not face to face in the same room. The price is heavy: Hamas is increasingly less rejected by the international community.

Robert M. Goot
Vice-President

Gilad Shalit committed no crime known to law. His release following his kidnapping by Hamas and after more than 5 years of unlawful captivity, during which his most basic rights were flagrantly abrogated, can only be a source of great relief to Jews and advocates of human rights everywhere. At the same time we recognize the astonishing price that Israel has been required to pay, not to abandon one of its soldiers but to secure Gilad’s freedom – the release of 1027 prisoners all of whom were convicted in courts of law and many of whom committed heinous crimes including multiple counts of murder. At this time of joy we also share and acknowledge the real pain and anguish of the families of the victims of those atrocities. We can only hope and pray that, this courageous and agonising decision of the Israeli Government, does not put Israel’s security and the safety of its citizens, at risk, let alone have the deadly consequences that many predict and which history teaches us, emerges from paying almost any price.

Flo Kaufmann
Vice-President

The release of Gilad Shalit in exchange for more than 1000 Palestinian serving prisoners, is a momentous and historic day for everybody, and has the effect of mixing up our feelings. My admiration for the parents of Gilad Shalit, for the fortitude they displayed during his captivity is beyond bounds. May no other parents and families be subjected to such pressures ever again. Watching the contrasting receptions on television today, I could not but help being struck by the appearance of Gilad. He appears to be very thin, frail and hollow of eye. I am certain that when the sheer joy of being back amongst his family and people has registered to the full extent, the skill of Israeli medics and the blessing of Jewish penicillin chicken soup, provided by his mother, will soon get him to fill out and improve his appearance; and hopefully go some way towards erasing the memories of his experiences of more than 5 years as a prisoner Gilad will return to a lead a full life in every way in the bosom of his family, his friends and his country. In contrast, the many Palestinians who were released today, appeared in general to be of average weight and had a spring in their step and did not show visible signs of detention, and one is hopeful that they will not return to their previous activities, but take up normal lives amongst their people. Historians may well note 18th October 2011 as a turning point in Israel’s relations with her neighbours, marking the beginning of the end of status quo. It may be viewed as the turning point and the end of the peace process resulting in peace itself, amid mutual security for our beloved Israel and her neighbours. Indeed it is worth noting, that so many of the major breakthroughs in the whole process have taken place under a right wing led government, contrary to expectations of many.

Charlotte Knobloch
Vice-President

Charlotte Knobloch welcomed the release of the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit from captivity in the Gaza Strip, supporting the “courageous decision“ by the Israeli government. “The cruel, five-year-long ordeal of Gilad and his familiy has finally come to an end! These are excellent news for the Jewish people as a whole.

Read the full press release by the Munich Jewish Community

Dr. Tomas Kraus
Vice-President

Only a strong nation can afford to act like Israel did in the case of Gilad Shalit. At the same time this decision – one of the most difficult in history – shows the world the values of Jewish people. Our culture and our ethics are based exactly on these values, the values of life. Hopefully the world will realize that. Hopefully this decision can indeed serve as a milestone on the path to peace. Hopefully ….

Moshe Ronen
Vice-President

Our celebration is bittersweet as we warmly embrace a son of Israel, and welcome him home. Our hearts go out to all those whose families and lives have been struck by terror and hatred as Israel pays the heavy price of the release of the perpetrators. May G-d almighty heal and strengthen Gilad, comfort and support the victims of terror and hate, and may he protect the people of Israel. Amen

Sara Winkowski
Vice-President

Guilad Shalit is back home. Though very pale and frail, but smiling, the most important is that he is back in Israel.

His coming back definitely shows the moral standards of the State of Israel and its responsibility towards its citizens. It is related to how Israel and the Jews value the most precious thing, life. We will never forget our own people, in spite of the price to be paid.

During these five and half years we all prayed for his liberation. We all cried yesterday, we all felt Guilad Shalit was our son. We were all so proud when we saw him wearing his IDF uniform saluting the Prime Minister.

We can only wish now that PEACE will finally come to Israel and to the region, and that Israel will not have to pay a high price for it.

Maram Stern
Associate Executive Vice-President

Israel’s decision to secure the release of Gilad Shalit in exchange for over a thousand Palestinians was certainly not an easy one - but it was definitely the right decision. After months and years of suffering relentless (and often biased) attacks in the international media, suddenly there were different images coming out of Israel: a country celebrating the release of a young man who had committed no crime.

What a stark contrast it was to the scenes that were reported from the other side: Both the leaders of Hamas and Fatah, Haniyeh and Abbas, embraced the returned prisoners and even praised them for their acts of terrorism.

Two different cultures have become apparent again for the world to see: one that celebrates life and the other that still celebrates those that bring death upon others.

Even though Israel is taking a risk in releasing terrorists from its prisons, its moral standing in the world has increased since yesterday. It was worth taking this risk.

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