Terrorists in Israeli jails are held in unbearably light conditions, thus weakening Israel's position in bargaining over the release of Gilad Shalit, according to Professor Moshe Sharon, an expert on Arab affairs in the Hebrew University.
“If the terrorist were not held here in summer camp conditions," Sharon explained to Arutz Sheva's Hebrew service on Thursday, "while utilizing their time for studying and completing academic degrees and having children inside the jail, like [terrorist murderer] Samir Kuntar did; if they worked at hard labor and did not meet with their relatives, then there would be true pressure on Hamas. The family members would exert pressure for their release. Today, with such good conditions, it is no wonder Hamas is not especially concerned about their release.”
Sharon suggested executing terrorists, but acknowledged that "nowadays, there are no executions, so at least let these terrorists do hard labor. I think there is room to consider executions. After all, even in the great United States, there are executions nowadays. Those terrorists who are persuaded to die as martyrs in order to reach paradise, may be harder to persuade if they know that they face execution in Israel.”
Sharon says the Israeli media are making matters harder for negotiators: “Unfortunately, Hamas follows the media in Israel and sees the great public support for the deal. This only increases and strengthens its obstinacy. In the present conditions, a situation has been created in which we have made all the possible mistakes, and we have no real way of exerting pressure on Hamas."