Hundreds of demonstrators took part in a demonstration outside the Prime Minister's Residence in Jerusalem on Thursday, demanding that the government hold fast and not give in to exorbitant terrorist demands in return for the freedom of IDF soldier-hostage Gilad Shalit.

The demonstrators included members of bereaved families, IDF reserve officers and concerned citizens.

Protesters against the proposed deal to free up to 1,000 Hamas terrorists in return for Sgt. Shalit succeeded in receiving media coverage of their protests Thursday, after years in which the media virtually boycotted them. Most of the popular television channels and internet news sites gave their protest front-page coverage, releasing an apparent torrent of public support -- and relief that the opinion was finally being reported -- through the reader “talkbacks.”
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