@Jeruba et al. Thanks for your posts and interest on this controversial subject. I propose reading up a bit first – perhaps on Google news – Gilad Schalit (I believe the two spellings are due to Shalit being the phonetic version of his Hebrew name, and perhaps Schalit is the original French spelling – I know they have French citizenship (at one point Sarcosi was involved himself in trying to get his release).
This recent Reuters article coldly sums up the technical aspects and mini-history of the case. I have read it and it’s quite impartial.
The fact of the matter is that unless you live in a crazy place like Israel, it really is hard to wrap your head around a lot of things and decisions that go on in Israel in particular and the Middle East in general. Perhaps due to the unfortunate massacre that was 9/11 and the subsequent involvement in the Middle East by the US, England and its allies – and the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, there is a little more personal involvement, study and interest in things Middle Eastern – Arabs, Jews, Israelis and Palestinian in particular.
Even from your posts above one can see that intelligent, inquisitive jellies who live in Europe and the US still get very little info about such a groundbreaking and controversial issue as this one – for us – that is, for people who live here. But that’s news for you: Occupy Wall Street is grabbing the headlines in the States, and I’m sure the water-logged people of Thailand could care less about the exact figure of prisoners being exchanged in Israel.
But to answer Jeruba’s question of why I agree with the exchange – it’s complicated. I didn’t agree to it up until a couple of years ago – and there have been a few times when the negotiations seemed to almost reach an agreement in the past. In other words, when it was being discussed initially, I did not think it fair to exchange these terrorists (the exact number has always been around 1000) for one soldier.
As @Rarebear and others have said – it seems a bit high.
It’s not only high – the actual prisoners being exchanged, what they have done, how they have done their murderous acts – and perhaps even worse, the fact that they have no remorse and can’t wait to go back to doing it – is a bit of a shocker and hard to comprehend why I, and at last poll about 80% of Israelis, would agree to this.
Like I said – it’s complicated.
But let’s just say that I am not in a minority at all – the Prime Minister, who himself lost a brother (the hero Yoni Netanyahu of Entebbe raid fame) to terrorists, the 28 ministers (against 3 who objected) and about 80% of Israelis feel the way I do; disgusted at the price, but want to conclude this issue and get Gilad home.
Over the last five and a half years of imprisonment, and for those who have read some psychology think: well of despair – Gilad has become an icon, and moreover, Israel’s son. My son, my neighbour’s son – Gilad is everyone’s son.
Gilad was very quickly adopted by the (left leaning) media, and in a way we were brainwashed and conditioned over the years to think and believe we should do everything to get him back.
Mind you, many western countries, including the US, do not officially negotiate with terrorists – which is understandable, so news of one soldier kidnapped would not dominate the news daily – as it did in Israel. There are American soldiers and even civillians being held hostage in a couple of places around the world at this moment – do you know their names and faces?
But brainwashing aside – I am also a soldier, and a father of a soldier – and we were taught that Israel would always do everything in its power to bring us home. Every soldier around the (western) world knows: yo don’t leave anyone behind.
So it’s clear how Israel, and I, have become personally involved in getting him back. But at what price?
There are currently about 8000 prisoners in the Israeli prisons. These terrorists, some of them just car thieves, rapists and criminals – but many terorist plotters, foiled suicide bombers and the ilk, get wonderful treatment here. I guarantee you this – despite what they would have you believe. I have seen it.
Those who come from Gaza – and we are talking about suicide bombers here, live in poverty there – with almost 50% unemployment (but that’s for another post).
So three meals a day, visiting rights, and the ability to work and even get University degrees – some of them don’t want to leave.
I say – let them go.
As long as there is the occupation, and as long as the Palestinians teach their children to hate Israel – or as Golda Meir said: as long as the Arabs hate the Israelis more than they love their chiildren – there will be war, and terrorism anyway.
Remember Jay Leno’s commercial for Doritos (a little humour here for comic relief, sorry): Crunch all you want, we’ll make more.
I don’t think the release of them will cause more terrorism, because as the case is today – they have millions at the ready anyway. The exchange might actually open doors to negotiation possibilities with Hammas – who is the de facto leader right now.
If this is the case – it was worth it two-fold; we get Gilad back (collective sigh of relief) and there might be an opportunity to have real talks with real people who can make real things actually happen in the future between Israel and the Palestinians.
Am I being naive? Is this a mistake? Only time will tell.
Those who object, mostly terror victims and families of victims – what can I say? My heart goes out to them – I really understand their objection. But I pray this was a good decision by the PM – and I am backing him on this one – and keeping my fingers crossed.
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