Awaiting Shalit's Arrival at Israeli Airbase

Standing by at Tel Nof airbase for Shalit's arrival.

The press tent erupted in applause as soon as Shalit was seen on tv. Some reporters are tearing up from the emotional moment.

Immense tension in the air, and among the media and officials here. But there's hot coffee, good sandwiches, and a working Wifi and PA system, so things are good so far... ;-).

An IDF spokesman told me they backed off a premature report that he was already being checked within Israel at an army base. HOWEVER, Bibi, officials and Shalit family are now at Tel Nof:  "I'm glad we've reached this day. You will soon get Gilad back," Netanyahu told Gilad's parents Noam and Aviva.

Bereaved Father of Palestinian Terror Bombing Victim on Shalit Prisoner Swap

Audio: http://soundcloud.com/dave-bender/bereaved-father-of-palestinian

Arnold Roth, the father of 15-year-old Malki, who was killed in a terrorist bombing at a Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem in August, 2001, talks with Dave Bender about the controversial and unprecedented prisoner swap with Hamas. In return for freeing IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was abducted in the summer of 2006 near Gaza, Israel is releasing Ahlam Tamimi, who was serving 16 life sentences in prison for planning and helping to execute the attack which killed 15 diners and wounded 130. 1,026 other prisoners are also to be freed to return to Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, and abroad, as part of the deal.

 Bereaved Father of Palestinian Terror Bombing Victim on Shalit Prisoner Swap by Dave Bender