That Gilad Shalit has been released after five years of captivity by Hamas brings joy to anyone who watches the Israeli soldier’s reunion with his parents and the ecstatic welcome he received by his countrymen. It also reminds one of the Israel Defense Forces’ noble purpose in doing all it can to stand by its men.
But joy is tempered by the bitter realities of statecraft. First, the trade of one Israeli soldier for 1,027 Arabs, 477 of them convicted terrorists, offers huge incentives for the capture of more Israeli soldiers. Second, the trade releases hundreds of terrorists to their freedom, where they can resume their evil ways, targeting not just Israelis but civilized peoples everywhere.
This exchange points to the sentimentalization of strategy. Leaders who place the concerns of one individual over the interests of the country betray their mandate and poison its future. Israeli politicians have been making these lopsided swaps since 1982, releasing over ten thousand Palestinians serving prison sentences for terrorist or other hostile actions. Each time they do, they forsake principle and common sense for short-term benefits. Shame on them.
Shame on those who relentlessly shame whomever the sitting Prime Minister is and place intense political pressures on them to strike a deal to bring these soldiers or their remains home. It is unfair to the leaders of Israel to allow this to continue without spelling out clear legislative parameters for the future.
The truth is, there is never a good deal to be struck with the devil and that's all Hamas and other terrorists are, devils.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseYou are right, Diane, and the whole thing makes me sick. Vengeance is mine, sayeth the Lord.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseReward good behavior; punish bad behavior. Heavy concept, that.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSurely the freed prisoners won't engage in terrorism after receiving a stern warning from Bibi not to do so!
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseIsrael should institute the death penalty for terrorists who are convicted of murder. Leave them on death row. Only execute them, one-by-one, until some future captured soldier/hostage is released. If the captured soldier/hostage is killed, execute a selected group of those condemned terrorists. If he is released, commute their sentences to life in prison. Threaten to execute one-a-day until the soldier is released. Its a heck of a lot better than freeing hundreds of murderers who will likely kill again.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThis comment makes the assumption that the terrorists actually care about the lives of their fellow captive terrorists. I assume, rather, that they are just political tools to be used to bleed the hearts of useful idiots here and abroad.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhen, not if, some of these released terrorists kill or kidnap more Israelis,
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI can hardly wait for Netanayahu's rationalizations.
Give me a break. Israel will have them all back in prison in short order.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"offers huge incentives for the capture of more Israeli soldiers"
And that's not just armchair theorizing.
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"The lessons we've learned by kidnapping soldiers leads us to continue the kidnappings." -- A Hamas leader in Gaza, Mahmoud Zahar
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI feel for the angry families. I pray that circumstances allow them to find justice... Perhaps Hamas will be foolish enough to provoke another war and this time the Israeli government will not force the IDF to use reduced force. Hit the terrorist sites with the full force of modern military might and enforce a total blockade of food, water, and fuel until Hamas begs to surrender.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat an anomalous event in the middle east. A service member is returned alive from the savages. Perhaps they are becoming less a savage and more a terrorist. That being said I hope that one of them, at least, blows them selves up to accentuate the point why Israel/organized states should not negotiate with terrorists. Start timer... Now. BTW hope your daughter is not on the bus. Liberalism is a mental disorder.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWith mandatory military service Israel, a real state, has a huge responsibility for those who write that, “up to and including my life,” check. The release of the evil was a sure thing – they were released early and likely will be back in jail.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe entire affair brings to mind the premises of Kurt Russell's two "Escape from . . ." movies (New York and L.A.). Isn't it too bad that there is no tiny little timed bomblet or virus that could have been put into those terrorists just before they were sent on their merry way? It might only work for one swap, but I think it would be well worth it.
Danged science fiction toys . . .they get our hopes up and hardly ever deliver. As Tim Wilson sings so pointedly, "Where the (heck) is my jet pack?"
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI have the deepest sympathy for Mr Shalit and his family; but sometimes it is the duty of a soldier to suffer, or to die, for his country. Israel would have been better off hanging the 1027, one by one, even at the possible cost of their own soldier.
If there is a longstanding weakness in Israeli tactics, this is it, their willingness to offer disproportionate rewards to the Arabs. As much as one loves to see Mr Shalit free, his freedom will ultimately be bought with the blood and freedom of his countrymen.
How many Israelis will die at the hands of those released today? How many more innocent Jews will be kidnapped as pawns for next time? Shame on you, Bibi, and upon all of you who presssured him into this humiliating act.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseVery well said.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThe way you deal with hostage takers is the way you deal with wolves, or pirates. Far from rewarding them, you make them pay, and pay dearly, and quickly. There were some things we could learn from our former adversaries, the Soviet Union. From an old article:
December 13, 1985|United Press International
LONDON — A Soviet KGB unit abducted 12 Lebanese extremists and killed one of them when gunmen executed one of four Russian hostages in Beirut in October, the Daily Mail said Thursday.
The newspaper, quoting intelligence sources from an unidentified country, said the KGB team sent the body back to the group`s leader with a message saying, ``Release our three hostages or we will shoot yours one by one.``
The brother of one of the Lebanese kidnappers was among the 12 extremists abducted by the KGB, the Mail said.
It said the quick release of the Soviet hostages ``amazed`` the U.S., British and French governments, all of which have citizens held captive in Lebanon.
The US, British, and French continued to have hostages in Lebanon. No Soviet citizen was ever kidnapped again after this incident.
My advice to the Israelis: Next time they grab a soldier, roll in a division of tanks. Start leveling city block after city block. Kill every terrorist or leader you can find, one at a time. And publicly announce to the hostage takers, this will continue until our soldier is released. If they demand the release of convicted terrorists, take the 417 out and line them against the wall. Shoot about ten of them. Turn to the camera and say, Release our soldier. We will remind you again in one hour.
The way you deal with viscious savages who want you dead, is like they are viscious savages who want you dead. Don t try to make them love you, they never will. But if they want to play Terrorist, teach them what is truly is to be terrified. Teach them to fear you.
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abusethe problem with this idea is that the powers that be, US, Russia, China, Europe, etc... won't let Israel do such stuff and Israel is dependent as a small country . The USSR (1985) could get away with "roman" tactics based on their power base. Unfortunately Israel is in a different position. If only.... The question is why doesn't the US do this when hostages are taken?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI wonder if the Moasad has figured out a way to put bio-tracers in these folks during their incarceration, releasing even a few hundred sophisticated tracers within a terrorist organization would be of enormous value.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseA thousand cockroaches for one good man, is it worth it? Yes, you can always squash them later but you can never get that one good man back.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI concur completely with the comment by Doug Smith. The approach by the KGB has worked well in other situations as well.
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