In The Land March 2009

We have yet another dilemma in Israel (as if we don’t have enough already). Nearly three years ago an Israeli soldier was kidnapped while on duty outside the Gaza strip after a sneak attack by Hamas terrorists on an Israeli military position. A number of soldiers were killed or wounded in the raid and Gilad Shalit, who himself was wounded, was snatched into a Hamas hideout somewhere in Gaza. This, most likely, may have sparked off the Second Lebanon War. The Shiite terror cell in Lebanon, Hezbollah, seeing that it seemed so “easy” to snatch an Israeli soldier, did the same along the Lebanese – Israeli border. After over two years of negotiations with Hezbollah and the release of a number of terrorists, including one who was serving a multiple life sentence, the bodies of two Israeli soldiers were returned to their families for burial in Israel…but what about Gilad? We assume that he’s still alive although we have only the word of those who know who’s holding him. He has not been visited by the International Red Cross, and although he was wounded, have no idea what his physical status is. The terrorists being held in Israeli prisons are living in “country club” conditions – cable TV, daily Arabic newspapers, visitation rights, three square meals a day, and they receive, as well, money from the outside to purchase items from the prison PX.

Negotiations have been going on, intensively, through the Egyptian governments, who have offered to be “non-partisan” brokers in the affair. The price Hamas is demanding for his release is exuberant – over 450 terrorists, many with Israeli blood on their hands. So, what do we do? Do we release them, being that there is “no price” high enough for the life of an Israeli soldier? Or do we just chalk him up as a “casualty of war” and not allow those terrorists to return to circulation? The dilemma is “What would you do if it were your son?”

Those who are victims of terror and have lost love ones are totally against the release of these terrorists. This wouldn’t be the first time that large groups of terrorists have been released for just a few Israelis. In the past, many terrorists, who had been released, performed even more hideous acts of terror once again. Although these families are against freeing terrorists with blood on their hands, would they think differently if the option was possible, to bring back their love ones from the grave in return for an exchange?

Some argue that swap should have been arranged long ago while the Hamas “price” was not as demanding as todays. The Israeli government has now stated that the Hamas demand is too high and they will not continue to negotiate at any price. Gilad is now in captivity for over 1000 days. What would you do?