(Amir Mizroch (AmirMizroch.com) analyzes Gilad Shalit's character as seen for first time on tortured Egyptian TV interview:
"Shalit looks like he was dragged to this interview, and the question must be asked: was he even given the choice to agree to the interview? His breathing was labored, said he wasn’t feeling well, and clearly wanted to leave. The interviewer, Shahira Amin of Nile TV, asked the most ridiculous questions, and even got into a verbal fight with the translator, who was saying that the interviewee was tired. Shalit stuck in there and tried to answer as best he could, but was clearly suffering. Despite all of this, he kept his composure and answered some pretty tough questions, while Amin devolved further and further into the journalistic abyss. For many Israelis, this was obscene. Like another form of torture.
Israel Radio reported that the interview was organized by Egyptian intelligence. Some of Shalit’s quotes were mistranslated by the translator; and someone off camera was telling the interviewer to hurry up and finish the interview.
Shalit said “I don’t feel very well, am not used to seeing so many people,” but the translator said: “He feels well, thanks the people who freed him.”
The ‘best’ question from Amin: “During all your years of captivity you released only one video. Why just once?”
“What has the experience taught you, has it made you stronger?”
Shalit actually did well here. He’s clearly dazed, but answers: I think that I’ve learned that its possible to swap prisoners in a shorter time period. And then runs out of steam..I don’t know where Gilad found the strength to deal with this.
And when the interviewer asks: There are 4,000 Palestinians languishing in Israeli jails, will you campaign to free them?
He replies, with intelligence and dignity: I will be glad if they are released, and if they do not continue fighting against Israel. I hope this deal furthers peace between Israel and Palestinians and that there will be no more wars between them.
What can we learn from what Shalit said?
He said he “tried to break the routine and not do the same things every day.” This takes awareness and intelligence. And it also points to what must have been a very difficult incarceration for such a young man.
.“I hoped that I would get out, but also realized that I could find myself in this situation for very many years.” Could be a sign that he was beginning to steel himself for a longer incarceration. Another sign of intelligence and character..
“I received the information [about the impending release] a week ago, but I felt it was coming about a month ago.” He is perceptive, looking for and picking up signals and subtext.