Defense Minister Ehud Barak said at the emergency meeting on Gilad Schalit's release Tuesday night that the decision was "painful" and "difficult," but that it was a moral necessity to release him.
"As defense minister and former chief of staff, I have a clear moral duty to take every possible option to release Gilad," Barak said."This decision requires courage, leadership, fortitude and responsibility. We are all responsible, but the Prime Minister has an additional drop of responsibility, and we should remember that he bears the burden alone."
