World Citizen: The Strategic Benefits for Israel of the Shalit Deal

When Israeli officials confirmed they had reached a deal with Hamas that would result in the freeing of the captured soldier Gilad Shalit, the reaction in the country was one of joy mixed with a heavy dose of apprehension. Israel had no good choices left when it agreed to make the lop-sided trade, which involved the release of more than a 1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, many of them serving sentences for involvement in horrific terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians. And yet, the widely held view is that the deal, while compelling on humanitarian grounds, will not only bring greater costs than benefits to Israel, but will make the country less safe.

There is no question that the deal with Hamas creates a number of serious strategic and tactical problems for Israel. But there is also the potential that Israel will glean important security benefits from the costly exchange. ...