Articles Index Gilad Shalit’s Release: Israel’s Deal With the Devil
Sunday, 16 October 2011 20:14
Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier kidnapped over 5 years ago by Hamas, will be released this week. In exchange, over 1,000 Palestinian terrorists will be freed. Are the consequences worth the risk?
Gilad Shalit has been in captivity for 1940 days and counting, just shy of five and a half years. I wrote on Gilad’s story back in June, on the 5th anniversary of his capture. My main question in that article was “Now, 5 years later, is he still alive?”
At that time, there had been no evidence in more than two years that Gilad was still living. The last ‘proof of life’ was in October of 2009 when Hamas released a 2:40 minute video,
On September 30, 2009, Israel announced that it would be willing to release twenty female Palestinian prisoners in exchange for a video proving Shalit was still alive. This video and exchange was attributed to intervention by Switzerland. The exchange took place successfully on October 2.
I reported that no one - including the International Red Cross - knew of his whereabouts or was allowed to see him,
At no point from the time of his abduction did anyone including the International Red Cross ever see him or know his whereabouts. Hamas has continually turned down requests by the Red Cross to see him.
I explained how for the first time since Shalit was abducted, the International Red Cross had demanded publicly that Hamas prove that Shalit is still alive.
"Because no sign of life has been had from Shalit for nearly two years, we demand that Hamas provide proof that he is still alive." But Hamas has responded with rejection, claiming that the Red Cross is intervening in Israel's "security games."
Within the article I gave the entire 5 year timeline from his abduction through all the negotiations in Israel’s attempt to gain his release.
24 hours after Gilad was abducted, on Monday, June 26, 2006, the Palestinians declared they were willing to give information about Gilad if Israel released all Palestinian female prisoners and all juveniles being held in Israeli prisons.
But then-Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected the demands from Hamas and told the members of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem,
“This is not a matter of negotiation; this is not a matter of bargaining; Release of prisoners is absolutely not on the agenda of the Israeli government.”
Only two days later on June 28, 2006, Israeli forces entered Khan Yunis in Gaza to search for Shalit.
Throughout July of that year Hamas kept threatening ultimatums and Olmert stood firm. On July 17, 2006, Prime Minister Olmert told the Knesset,
“Israel will not be held hostage – not by terror groups or by a terrorist authority or by any sovereign state.”
Even though it was made rather clear that Israel does not negotiate with terrorists, my article went on to explain that on June 26 of this year, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel had accepted a German-mediated deal for Shalit's release, and was awaiting Hamas' response,
“This proposal was harsh; it was not simple for the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said Sunday according to a statement released after the weekly Cabinet meeting. “However, we agreed to accept it in the belief that it was balanced between our desire to secure Gilad's release and to prevent possible harm to the lives and security of the Israeli people. As of now, we have yet to receive Hamas's official answer to the German mediator's proposal.”
After my article went off to the editor I had to add an update and the piece ended,
Update: Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has accepted the German-mediated terms for Gilad Shalit’s release, states Arutz Sheva. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri has accused Israel of “telling lies” and said no negotiations would continue until Hamas’ demands are met.
Now, after almost five and a half years Gilad is coming home. But at what cost?
Last Tuesday the Israeli government and the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas announced an agreement had been reached on a prisoner exchange. For the release of Gilad Shalit, some 1027 terrorists will be released from Israeli prisons.
Wait, hold on, stop. Israel will be releasing over 1000 terrorists to get back this one soldier? What happened to that statement made by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert?
“This is not a matter of negotiation; this is not a matter of bargaining; Release of prisoners is absolutely not on the agenda of the Israeli government.”
Let me make it as clear as possible here. I more than anything would like to see Gilad Shalit freed. In my article on Shalit I stated,
“We can only hope and pray that Gilad is alive and will be released.”
Although I pray for his safe release, I don’t want to see it happen at the expense of putting 1027 terrorists back on the streets. Of the 1027, 450 have blood on their hands.
I am so against this deal, I don’t even know where to start. How many Israeli civilians died at the hands of these terrorists? How much Israeli blood was spilled and how many soldiers died capturing these terrorists? How many more people will die at their hands once they are released, not to mention the blood that will inevitably be spilled to re-capture them?
This should not even be called a “deal.” It is nothing of the sort. If anything, it should be called a “bargain with the Devil”. How Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau and his administration would even agree to such a death wish is beyond me.
As my Israeli friend Rivka said to me the day the news of the ‘swap’ broke,
“What does Netanyahu think that these terrorists are going to go home once released and be good citizens?”
Other Israeli’s are not for this deal either. As Israel National News reported the day after the agreement was announced,
A senior security official with the IDF, who was involved in the capture of many terrorists over the years, said on Wednesday that the deal to bring back Gilad Shalit is dangerous to Israel.
He added, “If we add up the number of soldiers who were sacrificed in order to capture these killers, it seems that a lot more blood of soldiers was spilled while capturing these terrorists than one soldier in captivity.”
On the other hand, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton reportedly called and congratulated Netanyahu,
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday to congratulate him on his deal with Hamas for the release of Gilad Shalit. Clinton reportedly told Netanyahu the decision took "courage and leadership."
I find it rather interesting that Clinton, head of the U.S. Department of State would say such a thing considering that the U.S. will not negotiate with terrorists as noted by the same report,
Observers say Clinton's sentiments are particularly surprising given the enduring and iron-clad policy of the United States against negotiating with terrorists, instead preferring to mount rescue operations where viable, or to leave captured citizens in captivity.
Regardless of the U.S. stance on negotiations, there was a time that Israel had a "we will never negotiate with terrorists" policy as well. That went out the proverbial cell block window around the same time Israel starting referring to those in the West Bank and Gaza as "Palestinians".
One only has to listen to Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya to realize the consequences of allowing such a "deal" to happen,
Senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya says the Shalit-for-terrorists deal proves kidnapping works, and he promises more abductions. The Israeli Cabinet late Tuesday night approved freeing kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit for 1,027 terrorists and security prisoners.
Is it any wonder that al-Hayya says that this "deal proves kidnapping works" and they promise more abductions when after 5 years of keeping Shalit, Israel gives in and says to them that any Israeli soldiers life is only worth 1/1027th of their terrorists?
When this swap occurs it will be the Israeli government killing all those that had been murdered, all over again.
Now, those people and families who know who first hand the reality of terrorism are petitioning the High Court (Israeli Supreme Court) to stop this unbalanced swap. The Almagor Terror Victims Association is taking a stand against this insanity,
The High Court of Justice will hear a petition by a terror victim’s organization against the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit. The petition is to be submitted early next week, only after Israel officially releases the names of prisoners to be included in the first stage of the swap.
What bothers me the most in this whole situation is the change of Benjamin Netanyahu’s own stance on Israeli National Security and counter-terrorism. When he ran for office in 2009 he did so saying that “Israel’s Security was his first priority”.
His Likud party website still has the same homepage banner today that it had back when he was running for office,
“To do whatever it takes to insure the security, might and prosperity of our nation”
I was personally elated when Netanyahu won and became the leader of Israel, but somewhere he forgot what it means to be a leader and he became just another politician.
From the time I began to study terrorism and counter terrorism Netanyahu was the man that I turned to for information. He served in the most elite commando unit of the Israeli Special Forces, the Sayeret Matkal; he was involved in a number of military operations, including the rescue of hostages in a high-jacked Sabena airplane in 1972.
Netanyahu was cited for outstanding operational leadership by the Major General of the IDF, he has given speeches, written papers and various books on how to combat terrorism. As I studied and learned, his knowledge and insight was invaluable and he was the one I sought out for advice.
When the news of the Shalit deal broke something bothered me, I knew that I had read something that Netanyahu had written that touched on this exact situation. I found it when searching a book of his I had read years earlier. In the last chapter of his 1996 book “Fighting Terrorism, how Democracies can defeat the International terrorist network” Netanyahu lists 10 things that must be done. Number 8 is as follows,
Do not release jailed terrorists. Among the most important policies which must be adopted in the face of terrorism is the refusal to release convicted terrorists from prisons. This is a mistake that Israel, once the leader in anti-terror techniques, has made over and over again. Release of convicted terrorists before they have served their full sentences seems like an easy and tempting way of defusing blackmail situations in which innocent people may lose their lives. But its utility is momentary at best. Prisoner releases only embolden terrorists by giving them the feeling that even if they are caught their punishment will be brief. Worse, by leading terrorists to think such demands are likely to be met, they encourage precisely the kind of terrorist blackmail which they are supposed to defuse.
One of the very last lines in his book states,
Leaders must have the courage to do what is required even in the face of the most stinging criticism.
Well Mr. Netanyahu as I stated above, you stopped being a leader a longtime ago. I wish you would read your own words rather than having to eat them while you bury more of your people at the hands of those you are about to release.
UPDATE: Here is a partial list of those to be released,
The list, published on the Hamas-affiliated al-Aqsa TV website, includes several top Hamas leaders, such as Yehya al-Sinwar, as well as the eldest Palestinian prisoner, Sami Younis (78).
The list also includes the following prisoners:
Abdel Hadi Ghanem, an Islamic Jihad terrorist responsible for the 1989 terror attack on Egged bus 405, in which 16 Israelis were killed.
Fahad Schludi, a terror operative who took part in the 1993 abduction and murder of IDF soldier Yaron Chen.
Bassam Abu Sneina and Riyad Asila, who are serving a life sentence for the 1998 murder of yeshiva student Haim Kerman.
Nael al-Barghouthi, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1978, for murdering an Israeli security officer.
Yehiya As-Sinwar, who was one of the founders of Hamas' security forces in Gaza and was involved in the abduction and murder of IDF soldier Nachshon Wachsman. He is also the brother of one of the terrorists involved in Gilad Shalit's kidnapping.
Jihad Yarmur, who was convicted of Nachshon Wachsman's murder.
Ahmed Najar, former head of the Silwad terror cell, which killed three Israelis in six shooting attacks during the al-Aqsa Intifada.
Mohammed Hamada, who was convicted of planning a rocket attack on Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.
Ruhi Musteha, a senior operative with Hamas' military wing.
Husam Badran, the former head of Hamas' military wing in the West Bank, responsible for over 100 Jewish murders, he orchestrated the deadly terror attacks at the Tel Aviv Dolphinarium in 2001, at the Park Hotel in Netanya in 2002 and at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem in 2001.
Muhammad Duglas, who was implicated in the Sbarro attack, and is serving 15 consecutive life sentences for the murder of 19 Israelis.
With you 100 per cent,Gadi. excellent as usual.