Release Gilad Shalit
Jerusalem -- I'm here in Israel on the same media trip as Claire. (And yes, she is just as beautiful, brilliant and funny in person as you imagined.)
We've had an unbelievably packed itinerary, much of which Claire has informed you about. Yesterday we also met with the parents of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier who was captured by Hamas some 4.5 years ago.
About eight months ago, believing that not enough was being done to return their son, Noam and Aviva Shalit marched from their home in Mitzpe Hila to the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence, in front of which they erected a tent and sit in protest throughout the day. They vow to remain there until their son is released.
Everyone in town knows where the Shalits sit and it's a very social place with people frequently stopping by to join the Shalits and offer condolences. In the middle of our interview, a young bride and groom arrived to tell Mr. Shalit that they were remembering his plight on their happiest day. I joked that this must not happen much and was told that it happens all the time.
Shalit's story has received international media coverage, so you might remember that Hamas is holding him in gross violation of human rights laws. His captors won't allow the Red Cross to visit him and the only contact with the outside world has been a few letters, DVD and audio tape released in exchange for dozens of Palestinian prisoners.
On that note, we learned more about what Noam is asking of the Israeli government. Since Hamas has indicated that they will release Gilad if Israel releases 1,000 Palestinian prisoners, that's what the father seeks. The arrangement would be something like 550 released first, including some of the country's worst terrorists, and another 450 chosen by the Israeli government after Shalit's release.
Netanyahu responded that he was willing to release 1,000 prisoners, just not the worst ones that Hamas demands. He said Israel was willing to pay a heavy price for Shalit, "but not any price."
Israeli opinion seems to be divided on whether to agree with Hamas' demands or resist. Remember that Israel has a compulsory Army, and everyone believes that the government should work hard to get Shalit home to his family.
There are no easy answers for how to resolve the situation, but it's worth noting how much Israelis value the life of this one soldier and how much they're willing to give up to get him home.
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Comments :
Jan '11
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
Hamas itself is a gross violation of human rights laws.
Sep '10
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
It is horrific but anyone who thinks it fruitless should read _In Love and War_ by James and Sybil Stockdale. The torture he was enduring in Vietnam is one side of the coin and the other side of the same coin is the bureaucracy his wife had to endure and fight to get his plight recognized and then eventually acted on. The world needs to prevented from forgetting about him no matter what else happens.
May '10
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
Wow. That's a decision I'd hate to have to make.
Assuming those Palestinian prisoners are prisoners for good reason, trading even ten of them back could lead to another Israeli life lost. A thousand is an army.
Aug '10
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
Two things if I may. I met Stockdale one summer day. I was wearing a cast over a leg broken in a motorcycle wreck. He was sweet to commiserate with my plight of not being able to bend my knee. We sat there by the fire, he in shorts with his legs straight resting on a stump. He couldn't bend his knees and hadn't for years. The NVA had broken his legs so many times they couldn't heal properly. He neglected to tell me that as he smilingly expressed his pleasure that a son and Father were in this campfire together enjoying it as we had for a number of years prior and since then. Charming beyond words. The other is the wonderful juxtaposition of newlywed pilgrimages . Not much a custom in America, my first exposure was reading of the lines of couples visiting Lenin's tomb. How much more hopeful is this new tradition in Israel , paying homage to a young man rather than an ossified bookmark . Israel is hope like marriage. For better for worse, we are the virtual wedding party who pledge to give succor and support.
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
You're sweet, Mollie. For the record, she too is as beautiful, brilliant and funny in person as you imagined, and what's more, she's one of those people with whom it's very easy to make an instant connection, or to feel as if you have. Although, as we were saying in the car, "Nothing bonds a group so much as sharing a trip through the West Bank to the site of a heinous terrorist attack."
We all have to run to our next meeting now, but I'll elaborate on that comment at some point, because it's true and kind of interesting.
Jun '10
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
I must confess that I don't follow this issue enough despite my perpetual fury about it. How does this guy stay undetected? It would seem that Israel must be able to track practically every move anyone makes in Gaza, yet they can't find him. Are there theories about this? My heart sinks to its lowest levels whenever I think about him.
Feb '11
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
Hmmmf. I've never stopped being intensely peeved at the poor pitiful palestinians since I saw footage of them jumping for joy just after the 9/11 attack.
Murdering children in cold blood and passing out candy makes me like them even less.
Holding Gilad Shalit prisoner to ransom vile scum just seems par for the course.
It's abysmally easy for me to say but I think Israel should release none of these loathsome primates in an attempt to secure the release of anyone.
It will only encourage more kidnapping. My condolences to his family, not that anything I can say or do will make their situation any better.
May '10
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
Israelis are as astute as anyone about military strategy and part of that strategy is (as Xennady said) you don't negotiate with terrorists or you beget more of the same. So, the fact that Netanyahu and the citizens of Israel are willing to compromise national foreign policy for this one soldier reveals the tremendous value they hold on individual life. That itself is an amazing story.
May '10
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
I agree with Andrea, as is so often the case. At the same time, I can't help but think that if the terrorist scum were executed--in fast order after a fair trial--they wouldn't be waiting in prison to be released in exchange for kidnap victims. In far too many cases the releases have been done in exchange for bodies, more of which the released terrorists go on to create. While I think it says something amazing about the value placed on return of their soldiers--dead or alive--I'm afraid it speaks weakness to the wrong people.
May '10
Re: Release Gilad Shalit
And what a surprise...I agree with you. This story and the one Bill McGurn posted about the Fogel family have left me with such a heavy heart tonight. I much prefer hearing stories of Israeli operatives whacking the bad guys.