Freed Israeli Soldier Returns Home After Five Years

Galid Shalit, an Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas for five years, returned home today while 1,027 Palestinian prisoners, many held for violent crimes, were released in exchange for his freedom, the Christian Post reports. Shalit, 25, was greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu upon landing at an air base in central Israel, then spoke with his family via phone and was given an Israeli army uniform to wear. Regarding the release of the Palestinian prisoners, Netanyahu said: "I would like to make it clear: We will continue to fight terrorism. Any released terrorist who returns to terrorism -- his blood is upon his head. The State of Israel is different from its enemies: Here, we do not celebrate the release of murderers. Here, we do not applaud those who took life. On the contrary, we believe in the sanctity of life. We sanctify life. This is the ancient tradition of the Jewish people."