Days after Arab leaders and terrorists proclaimed victory in last week's deal with Hizbullah, the Israeli government is preparing to promote a deal to release more terrorists for kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit. A committee headed by Vice Premier Chaim Ramon is set to deliberate on the status of the terrorists Hamas wants freed, including those with "blood on their hands." Israel so far has refused but may follow through with more concessions.
A government official said on Monday that "in the end, despite the strict negotiations we will hold with Hamas, Israel will have to pay a hefty price in murderers in order to bring Gilad home." Among the terrorists the committee is considering releasing are those responsible for planning the attack on the Park Hotel in Netanya and those behind Jerusalem bus bombings.
The official’s statement came five days after Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser came back to Israel in caskets, their bodies in what an IDF rabbi said were a “disturbing” state, while child-murderer Samir Kuntar and four Hizbullah terrorists were released to mass celebrations in the Arab world.
Israel has so far agreed to release 70 of the 450 terrorists that Hamas is demanding in exchange for returning Gilad Shalit, presumably alive. The government has already approved the release of an additional 250 terrorists and is now considering the release of at least some of the remaining 120 prisoners, who are considered to pose the highest threat to Israel.
Ramon’s committee includes Ministers Tzipi Livni, Daniel Friedmann, Avi Dichter and Ami Ayalon.
The Shin Bet strongly opposes the release of prisoners with "blood on their hands" and has asked to appear at committee in discussions. The National Security Agency warns against the release of the terrorists, but a growing number of Olmert’s cabinet ministers appear to support the softening in policy. 
The Shin Bet strongly opposes the release of prisoners with 'blood on their hands.'
“There is no choice,” said one minister. “The final decision rests with the State, and it will have to decide even if security forces remain opposed.”
Meanwhile, ongoing dialogues continue in Egypt between Ofer Dekel and Hamas, as Israel attempts to keep Shalit alive while it decides just how far it will go in releasing terrorist murderers. As Israel’s concessions inch closer toward the demands of Hamas, the terror group, as head of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, has hinted that it may now raise the number of demanded prisoners to 1,000.
Reflecting a Sunday discussion at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem, a government official told reporters that "Hamas has adopted two ideas from the swap deal with Hizbullah. The first is that patience when dealing with Israel pays off to a degree, and the other was instilled upon witnessing the celebrations in Lebanon in preparation for the release of Samir Kuntar. They are already multiplying this effect by 450, inside of Gaza's tiny population. This, in their opinion, will lead to Hamas' empowerment."
Meanwhile, former American President Jimmy Carter has urged Israel to release Hamas politicians in efforts to expedite the prisoner deal. Robert Pastor, a senior adviser to Carter, came to Israel last week in a regional tour that included meetings with Hamas, Syria and Egypt.
In his Israeli visit, Pastor met Eli Yishai, head of the Shas party and a minister in Olmert’s cabinet. Pastor conveyed Carter’s wish to preside over a tripartite meeting with a senior Hamas figure, in order to discuss the Carter’s initiative.
Carter met with Hamas leaders in Syria in April to discuss the terms of Shalit’s release.
As news spreads of Israel’s gradual capitulation to Hamas, Prime Minister Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak are working to censor the details of the Shalit negotiations. They claim that control over media publication on the issue will prevent addition public pressure on the State to release terrorists and the resultant toughening of Hamas' demands.