When I was first learning about life in Israel, over forty years ago, people talked about how one is expected to bargain. Never pay the first price offered. Pay as little as possible. Walk away from the shop, and they'll call you back with a better and yet better price. It was quite a switch from the very "proper" and inflexible America in the mid-1960's.
Israelis seem to have lost the knack. They're (we're) playing all these negotiations like total patsies, total fools.
We've given away our precious Land for nothing--Disengagement or a smile and Nobel Peace Prize--Menachem Begin's Camp David.
Instead of simply refusing all aid to our enemies and Red Cross visits to the terrorist/enemy Arabs we've captured until our soldiers are returned--alive or dead, we keep offering to free more and more terrorists.
Gilad Shalit's family are media darlings like the religious parents of our soldiers captured in Lebanon could never be.
Yes, Gilad Shalit must be freed, must be returned home to Israel, but what happened to the master Israeli bargainers of old? Maybe we should send one of the veteran stall owners from Machene Yehuda to negotiate. I'm sure he wouldn't do any worse than our politicians, diplomats and media have done.
Free: Gilad Shalit: Gilad Shalit * Gilad and Israel * Gilad * Jewish Soldier and Gilad * Kidnapped Soldier * Justice * Hostage * Kidnapped Israeli * Gilad Shalit * IDF* Terrorism* Jewish * Hamas * Jew
24 comments:
We have no choice. It's either free the 1,500 prisoners or let Shalit turn into another Ron Arad.
great site... have posted the banner and link to it.
I suggest reading
http://www.behindthedaf.com/miscindex.html
or http://www.behindthedaf.com/ransom.pdf
besurot tovot
a reader of www.behindthedaf.com
Gosh, I was looking at a map, and I can't find Israel anywhere...
An Anonymous comment has been deleted due to using the 'f' bomb every third word, and for expressing virulent anti Semitism.
Mr Bagel
This isn't serious. You all are joking, right? What's his name? Gilad? Yeah, ok, nice looking kid, prime of his life- yada, yada, yada. I know of hundreds of sweet, innocent children murdered in Gaza before they could even reach the prime of their lives. Yeah, but you don't care about them, right? It's this Gilad kid you're obsessing over. Well, at least let's be clear on one thing- this kid was not hanging out watching the game on tv when he was suddenly kidnapped by armed intruders. You know that right? He was a soldier in an occupational military. Understand. He was helping to implement an illegal occupation. Free Gilad Shalit! Grow a brain cell.
so, Hamas asked Israel to release 450 Palestinian prisoners in return for Gilad Shalit. Israel says "change 150 names". Israel steps-up by denying Palestinian prisoners their rights to visits, education etc.
Now, unless diplomacy really starts to work (and the Israeli government stops backing out of negotiations), all I can see is a continual change of conditions being made by Israel.
Ok, get Gilad freed, but lets stop beating about the bush please!
Once Upon a time, instead of Contemplating trading the precious Land (Eretz Yisrael) or worse, terrorists to threaten Israeli lives, the leaders of israel would have used one of their best resources, their highly trained personnel and gone in to Gaza and got Gilad Home.
You dont leave a Man behind. Ever.
One Question for Mr Netanyahu ... Have you forgotten Entebbe???
GO GET GILAD ~ NOW!!!
In reply to bob!? ..
what you said is right.. there are so many being killed but why should nothing be done about it. This is a chance we have to let one more person live a life and no matter who it is, their life should not be spared, and we should do whatever we can to save him and anyone else in that matter. He fought for his country, and now we have to fight back for him.
Hi Bob, hows it going over there in the land of "I dont know what the hell I am talking about"?Occupational army...I love that term. The diffenece on our side of things is that we do care about the children killed in the recent operation. That doesnt seem to be the case on your end. Innocent lives young and old were destroyed in Gaza due to the actions of a repressive and illegitament regime. Hamas causes and forces upon themselves all reprocutions for their actions. If it would denounce such cowardly acts like hiding behind its citizens and stockpiling arms in residential areas then maybe we can talk. Untill then I say pressure Gaza with our own set of Quassams until we see a free Gilad crossing the border unharmed. I do not want violence, but I certainly think its time to change the way these actions by these terrorists are handeled. Oh and by the way hows that for a couple of brain cells.
wow bob, you sure have a lot to say for someone who obviously has no idea about the situation. i'm assuming you're a news watcher, and all your information is collected mainly through the media. right? and you're telling me to grow a brain cell? how about if it was your kid? would you feel the same way?
i don't know you, and for all i know, you're a really nice guy. in fact, i'm betting that that's the case. but please, don't stick your fingers into pies you don't the recipe of. ok? thanks man.
I am greatly distressed that Israel continues to release Palestinian prisoners and periodically eases the Gaza blockade and NOWHERE is there any precondition that Gilad Shalit MUST be released first. This is not the Israel I've always known. Israel should close its doors to Washington AND the Palestinians and make NO MOVE toward ANY peace efforts until Shalit is released, safe and sound.
Bob, listen bud, with your understanding as it is then you would not mind in the least, if anything understand that moving things up a notch and declare all out war on the Palestinians of Hamas in the gaza strip is ok too, being that tit for tat is obvious. I'm definitly for all out war on the gaza strip till they return our comrade Gilad!!!
anyone who thinks that there is a reason to negotiate rather than declare WAR on those within the Gaza strip are not listening or registering what is being said and done...nothing! Give an ultimatum and deadline. I'm sure Silad was devastated when he realized that the last military action in Gaza was not about bringing him home, rather to stop the irritating bombing in askelon etc. It should have been named the war to bring back Giad and nothing more! We would have him back by now if that was the main purpose. Listen parents, to be able to look in your sons eyes when they get recruited in the army, we have got to let them know that, God Forbid, if they should be kidnapped like Gilad we would do all we can, everything, not just write a letter. The only way they will know for sure is if they see how we react or not to Gilad's plight.!!Get off your butts and do something!
My daughter and I just completed a bike ride to raise awareness about Gilad's captivity, see story from our local Jewish paper
http://www.njjewishnews.com/njjn.com/071609/cjfatherdaughter.html.
We rode from NJ to North Carolina. I believe that all of our prayers can make a difference. This experience has changed me and the way I pray. Gilad has become a constant in my mind, my thoughts, and prayers everyday. We all need to pray for him and we need to expect more from the Israeli gov't. You can't tell me that Israel can fly into entebee in Uganda and free a plane load of hostages but you can't figure out how to get one soldier being held hostage right under your nose in Gaza for three years. Nobody spoke about releasing terrorists from prison while Jews were sitting in an airport in Uganda. This is no different. Just get him out. And do it now.
I don't see the logic in freeing a thousand plus prisoners to maybe release Shalit as it will simply encourage further abductions. Military action has also be unsuccessful. I would suggest increasing East Jerusalem settlement expansion until Shalit is released. Settlements appears to be the Palestinians major point of contention of late.
Vince
it's unbelievable that Gilad Shalit is still in captivity. He should have been home a long time ago. If his family can at least know that he is alive , it's worth to release 20 palestinian presoners.
supporting Gilad Shalit on http://www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=7473486668
I have yet to see Israel send their children into any zone (nonmilitary or military) with bombs attached to their bodies to fight a cause. Nor have I seen Israeli soldiers pushing children in front of themselves to go blow up innocent people as do those holding Gilad. Free the man!!!
The Israeli government and media failed with the recent flotilla episode since they should have used it to publicize the real plight of GILAD SHALIT. Israel must treat the Nazi Muslims in Gaza as the sworn enemies they've proven themselves to be.
Release Gilad Shalit when the people Gaza and are allowed to live like human beings again.
this week Israel freed Gilad's kidnappers without Gilad? are you kidding? why isn't Israel calling the shots first ... like return Shalit in good health immediately or we are throwing all the Arabs out of Israel and into Gaza.... period .... give them a time frame ...like two weeks …. Let them squirm …. Israel has lots of soldiers, but they have forgotten how to fight ...Let the fact that Gilad has not been returned ... or even seen ... make them suffer …. evict all of the Arabs in Israel and cram them into Gaza ... Like an additional million-plus Arabs crammed into Gaza within the next two weeks? … that might do it ... Let them really feel it…
For the first time in my life Im not proud to be a Jew, Im sitting reading all of these post and you my people my kind kill innocent children everyday,how do you actually think you gonne find heaven I find this all bewildering. Through all the topics at our family gathering no talks about peace people think that we are only about hatred, dont you see what you are doing tom judaism. Gilad must be released his pain is felt but we all need to stop being so self rightous, Gilad would never have been there in the first if it wasnt for all this fighting... God help us all...
Some of the things that I think of when I think of Gilad Shalit is bravery and honor. What happened to "Esprit de Corps" (Literally from French meaning Group Spirit)- the sense of comradeship and purpose that anyone who goes through the training and membership in the elite Israeli Army goes through? Why isn't Israel backing up what this man has stood for and has almost become a living martyr for? When I think of the Israeli Armed Forces- I am incrediby proud..I am an American Jew who has already served in the United States Navy for 5 Years. This man could have been your brother, father, uncle, or someone else significant. Let's not do what Jimmy Carter did when all those Americans were held hostage--this man deserves to be free...if it is necessary for military action...SO BE IT!!! No cowardly bully like Hamas respects anything but full frontal head-on military confrontation THEY CAN NOT BE BARGAINED WITH! Nathan
as a citizen of northern ireland, my experience would be that, the appetite of terrorists are insatiable. the more you give them, the more they want.
Post a Comment