I have been watching the events over in the Middle East this morning and it's hard not to put too much emphasis on the release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli conscript held captive in Gaza for the last five years.
In the last couple of hours Hamas have released him to the Egyptian government,the first and crucial step of a prisoner swap that includes 1,027 prisoners in Israeli jails.
The saga of Shalit began in 2006 when the young conscript was kidnapped near Gaza triggered an outpouring of support in Israel.
Since then rumours have abounded about the conscript's fate and Shalit has become a cause of celebrity back in his homeland.
Israel has always wanted the conscript in return and the fact that amongst the prisoner exchange are some of the men who have committed the most atrocious acts of terrorism towards Israel will not have been an easy pill for Israel to swallow.
Amngst them are Abdullah Barghouti who was sentenced to 67 consecutive life terms in jail for making bombs that killed killed 66 people and wounded more than 500 and Ahlam Tamimi, who drove a suicide bomber to blow up the Sbarro pizza restaurant in Jerusalem in 2001.
In fact of the 1027 being released,more than 280 of whom are serving life sentences.
Nevertheless Israel will be rejoicing today on the return of her prodical son who whilst in captivity have been promoted twice by his county's army.
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