Last night I had a childish thought. It just flashed through my mind and was gone.

I thought that perhaps if we all prayed very hard, then tomorrow (today), when the time comes for Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev to be returned home, they will be alive.

This morning I somehow managed to forget all about it. I didn’t read the paper. I didn’t listen to the news. Youngest and I went off to the mall as planned to buy her some clothes.

When we got home, I glanced at the morning paper, printed before the scheduled swap of course, and remembered today was the day. I immediately checked Ynet, and got the news. Two coffins with the bodies of reserve soldiers kidnapped off sovereign Israeli land while they defended the northern border, in return for a live monster: convicted terrorist, murderer and heartless baby killer, who purposefully entered Israel to destroy the lives of innocents.

I don’t think there is one person in this country today who is satisfied with what has happened, even if they wholeheartedly supported the deal (unless they are Arab Hizballah supporters, that is - then they are cheering). It is a day of mourning for us all, but mainly for the Goldwasser and Regev families. At least the hell of uncertainty is over for them.

I can only imagine the dread felt by Gilad Schalit’s poor parents today. What will this do to the price to be paid for their live child?

I won’t put on the TV. I don’t want to have to see pictures of Hizballah celebrating with their hero baby killer.

Please go read what David has to say today.

Update: Such a gentle, good man is Noam Schalit. Although he must realize this deal is not good for his son, and might even put his life in danger, he won’t say a word expressing his fears: “…the family of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit sent the Regev and Goldwasser families “all their love and support on this hard day.” The words of comfort came from Gilad’s father Noam, who added: “We support the families, love them and strengthen them.” “

Another update: You should read this as well.

Another update: Judy’s comment on Harry’s Place:

It is a specific Torah commandment that the Jewish people must redeem their captives. This is something Jewish communities having been doing with a heavy heart since the days of Ancient Israel, and it recalled in the daily prayer services. Joel Brand and colleagues from the Jewish Agency tried to negotiate with Eichmann for the release of the Hungarian Jewss in return for arms but understandably the Allies refused. That huge community was shipped off to Auschwitz and almost all murdered on arrival. This is why it is enshrined in secular Israeli law and continues to have such huge resonance with Israelis.

But there is another minority tradition.Rabbi Rothenburg of Germany in the middle ages who was imprisoned for ransom gave orders that he must not be ransomed lest others be kidnapped. He died in prison There is now in Israel a movement of soldiers who are organizing declarations that they do not to be redeemed if captured. There is also the Torah law that you must not frame your laws in such ways that it needlessly leads to deaths. I am no expert in Jewish law but I believe that because of this deal and the declared commitment by the terror groups to kidnap more and more, Israel should change the policy now. I’ll be interested to see how the most influential rabbis in Israel comment.

Update: Bish says the deal is not necessarily bad for Schalit. He says that it signals that Israel is ready to pay any price. Good for Schalit he says, bad for all of us.