*on my soapbox*

I was debating posting about this, but these are actually politics I care about, and think this needs to be told.

Not even 10 minutes after I posted the entry below, about falafel, I read a sobering story in the NYTimes. In 2006 - actually, shortly after my trip to Israel - Israeli soldiers were captured by Hezbollah, a Lebanese militia/terrorist group. The Israeli cabinet voted on Sunday to trade a notorious convict, along with 4 other Lebanese, for these 2 soldiers, whom they initially believed to be alive. But unfortunately, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, the 2 Israeli soldiers, are dead. So essentially, Israel is trading 5 Lebanese convicts for the bodies of 2 dead Israeli soldiers. Israel has a tradition of doing everything it can to get back its soldiers, but one of these convicts they are releasing.....Samir Kuntar - in 1979, he was part of a group that raided the Israeli town of Nahariya, killed a civilian while his 4 year old daughter watched, and then smashed her head and killed her, as well. Her mother and 2 year old sister were hiding, and to keep the 2 year old from crying, the mother accidently suffocated her. Kuntar says he regrets nothing, and when he returns to Lebanon, he will receive a hero's welcome. Israel will also give the UN info on Iranian diplomats who disappeared in Lebanon. Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier captured by Hamas 2 years ago, is still missing and his fate is unknown. 

You can read about this more here. 

Personally, I am shocked, saddened, and conflicted. I have a few thoughts on the UN, which I won't share here. I am sad for the families involved.