A senior diplomatic source informed Arutz Sheva, this week, that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was initially opposed to the release of security prisoners that resulted in this week's freeing of soldier Gilad Shalit from terrorist captivity.

The source said heavy pressure by Netanyahu advisors brought about the prime minister's change of mind. Another factor was the assurance given by security leaders that Israel could deal with the heavy price of releasing more than 1,000 security prisoners.