The world has been gripped by the story of Gilad Shalit's kidnapping and the ensuing Israeli attempt to set him free. A large number of editorials and opinions have featured in the global press during the last eight days dedicated to the subject.

JPost.com brings you a glimpse of the editorial and opinion articles that had been published on the matter in major publications in the West and the Arab world.

The United States

The New York Times: Hamas provokes a fight

The Washington Post: Hamas's war

The Washington Times: How Hamas 'outsources' terror

The Los Angeles Times: Both Sides in Gaza Standoff Have Much to Lose

The United Kingdom

The Observer: Israel's act of war is inexcusable

The Daily Telegraph: Israel's new leader must stop trying to emulate Sharon

Arab World

Arab News: (Saudi Arabia): World Cup? For Palestinians It's Again Death and Destruction

Daily Star (Lebanon): Retaliation leads not to victory, but to death, destruction and stalemate

Compiled by James Goldstein