Israeli soldier, Palestinians freed in captive swap
- 13 years ago
RESENDING TO CORRECT REFERENCE TO NETANYAHU AS ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (NOT PRESIDENT)
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit lands at an Israeli air base on Tuesday - as hundreds of Palestinians cross Israel's borders in a thousand-to-one prisoner swap.
After five years in Palestinian captivity, Shalit was greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was led to his father.
Netanyahu called it a "difficult day."
SOUNDBITE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
"We will continue to fight terrorism and any released terrorist who returns to terrorism is taking his life in his hands. Israel differs from its enemies, we do not celebrate the release of murderers, here we do not glorify those who have taken a life. On the contrary, we believe in the sanctity of life."
As Shalit arrived to a hero's welcome in Israel -- a similar homecoming in Gaza City for nearly half of the 1,027 Palestinian prisoners released - some serving life terms for attacks killing Israelis. A release date for remaining prisoners has not been set.
Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas spoke in the West Bank.
SOUNDBITE: Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas
''Dear brothers your families here in the homeland, in the diaspora and in the whole world are very happy, they see you, and they are happy, delighted, joyful, and we greet you, we greet you immensely, and we are with you everywhere."
Many in the international community hope the deal would revive peace talks that broke down 13 months ago.
But, on the eve of the swap - Israelis and Palestinians failed to agree to come together for late October meetings in Jerusalem.
Sarah Irwin, Reuters.
Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit lands at an Israeli air base on Tuesday - as hundreds of Palestinians cross Israel's borders in a thousand-to-one prisoner swap.
After five years in Palestinian captivity, Shalit was greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was led to his father.
Netanyahu called it a "difficult day."
SOUNDBITE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
"We will continue to fight terrorism and any released terrorist who returns to terrorism is taking his life in his hands. Israel differs from its enemies, we do not celebrate the release of murderers, here we do not glorify those who have taken a life. On the contrary, we believe in the sanctity of life."
As Shalit arrived to a hero's welcome in Israel -- a similar homecoming in Gaza City for nearly half of the 1,027 Palestinian prisoners released - some serving life terms for attacks killing Israelis. A release date for remaining prisoners has not been set.
Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas spoke in the West Bank.
SOUNDBITE: Palestinian Mahmoud Abbas
''Dear brothers your families here in the homeland, in the diaspora and in the whole world are very happy, they see you, and they are happy, delighted, joyful, and we greet you, we greet you immensely, and we are with you everywhere."
Many in the international community hope the deal would revive peace talks that broke down 13 months ago.
But, on the eve of the swap - Israelis and Palestinians failed to agree to come together for late October meetings in Jerusalem.
Sarah Irwin, Reuters.