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Last update - 23:16 02/09/2009
Barak: IDF troops must be ready to die for Israel
By Anshel Pfeffer and Yanir Yagna, Haaretz Correspondents
Tags: Israel News, Hamas, Shalit 

Defense Minister Ehud Barak reiterated on Wednesday his belief that Israel Defense Forces soldiers must be willing to risk their lives in service of their country and that the government would not pay any price for the return of Gilad Shalit, who has been languishing in Hamas captivity for over three years.

"The time has come to say bluntly: Combat troops and soldiers arrive with the knowledge that the task of fulfilling their missions entails a willingness to risk their lives and that the fighters have that willingness to undertake the mission," Barak said.

The defense minister raised eyebrows on Tuesday during a question-and-answer session with high-school students, when he retorted that the tone of the public discussion surrounding the Shalit affair has included "whining."
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"We cannot blur the basic truth," Barak said. "We are a generation of fighters and in the Middle East, there is no mercy for the weak and there will not be a second opportunity for those who do not know how to defend themselves."

"A society that looks to survive must prepare its youth to stand together," the defense minister said. "We have a moral responsibility as commanders to bring back Shalit and we will make every possible and worthy effort to bring him home, but not at any price. We cannot get carried away by words that have no basis in fact."

The father of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit urged the government Wednesday to secure his son's release.

"During these days of repentance and before the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, Gilad needs to be home," Noam Shalit said during a ceremony in Ashdod. "Gilad needs to come home before it is too late, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong."

On Tuesday, Barak said Israel would do its utmost to secure the release of Shalit, "not at any price, but in every way."

Shalit refused to comment on Barak's comments, but did say: "I believe that during these days there needs to be less speech and less chatter... I call on others to endeavor to do more, with more determination and less talk."

Negotiations have yielded little result so far for the release of Shalit, who has been in Hamas captivity since he was abducted by Gaza militants in a 2006 cross-border raid.

The German mediator in the talks for Shalit's release has presented Hamas with a new proposal to which the Palestinian Islamist group would have three days to respond, according to German weekly Der Spiegel.


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      1.   Free Barghutti first 15:36  |  Honor and Pride 02/09/09
      2.   and after Barghouti 15:55  |  nrv 02/09/09
      3.   Barghouti 17:34  |  michael cohen 02/09/09
      4.   Bring Gilad home before it`s too late ..... ! 18:49  |  Ilan 02/09/09
      5.   Troops must die for biblical Israel project. 20:45  |  Dutch Dirk 02/09/09
      6.   Barghouti 20:50  |  jocelyn Braddell 02/09/09
      7.   Barghutti is a murderer, arrested, Shalit, a soldier, kidnapped 20:53  |  Slappy 02/09/09
      8.   If IDF troops must be prepared to die for Israel 21:54  |  Chris Linthwaite 02/09/09
      9.   Dutch dirk`s twisted morality 21:55  |  Jonny Moses 02/09/09
      10.   Barak, right or wrong? 22:08  |  arieh zimmerman 02/09/09
      11.   terrorists should never be freed 22:11  |  vik 02/09/09
      12.   Alas, there is no absolute "right" and "wrong".... 22:15  |  Esther 02/09/09
      13.   It is always a possibility, a realist . 22:35  |  Jo 02/09/09
      14.   Young Jewish boys dying for Lebensraum? 22:42  |  Lou Medel 02/09/09
      15.   Is he really alive?????? 22:42  |  wilson 02/09/09
      16.   How Can Barak ... 23:03  |  Bewildered 02/09/09
      17.   He might be right but... 23:45  |  Steve 02/09/09
      18.   No Rockets From Hezbollah After Kuntar 23:47  |  Joe 02/09/09
      19.   State Responsibility 00:41  |  Fahmi Natour 03/09/09
      20.   Inside knowledge 01:16  |  Chappaqua neighbor 03/09/09
      21.   Arabs must pay for Shalit - and there must be NO LIMIT on price 01:43  |  Boris 03/09/09
      22.   one dead is one too many! 01:52  |  northern neighbor 03/09/09
      23.   For Israel, or the careers of politicians? 02:04  |  Mark Lincoln 03/09/09
      24.   Barak should hold his tongue 02:05  |  Neville Chamberlain 03/09/09
      25.   Congratulations Barak! 02:18  |  Murray of Montreal 03/09/09
      26.   Why Should Israelis Die for the Settlers` Dirty Politics? 02:28  |  Monitor 03/09/09
      27.   Israeli soldiers afraid? 02:34  |  Ben 03/09/09
      28.   barak should be swapped for schalit 02:35  |  bernard ross 03/09/09
      29.   #1 NEVER FREE BARGHOUTI 02:58  |  *BEN JABO 03/09/09
      30.   #6 jocelyn Braddell 03:00  |  *BEN JABO 03/09/09
      31.   #8 Linthwaite - Stop making up the rules 03:07  |  *BEN JABO 03/09/09
      32.   #14 Lou Medel - Would you mind telling me 03:10  |  *BEN JABO 03/09/09
      33.   # 8 Chris Linthwaite 03:18  |  Joseph.E 03/09/09
      34.   Dutch Dik 03:21  |  Denton 03/09/09
      35.   Crissie lintwit 03:26  |  hamid 03/09/09
      36.   Lou Medel how do you want to engage a terrorist hiding 03:42  |  Ralph 03/09/09
      37.   the IDF needs better leadership, Barak 03:46  |  Mark 03/09/09
      38.   We don`t do that in Europe anymore 04:42  |  Mark B. 03/09/09
      39.   SHALL I SAY IT AGAIN? 05:37  |  VIPER 03/09/09
      40.   ?Why to die if there is a peaceful alternative 06:02  |  C2 03/09/09
      41.   Barak orders Seppuku? 06:20  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/09/09
      42.   Lou Medel.....As General Patton Said, " Your Job 06:20  |  Eli 03/09/09
      43.   Barak orders Seppuku? 06:20  |  Mark of Lewiston 03/09/09
      44.   oh, I thought that we won the last few wars 06:43  |  arieh zimmerman 03/09/09
      45.   don`t be silly barak! 08:32  |  eric 03/09/09
      46.   Barak, as usual, is right. Esther #12 is right too. 08:40  |  S 03/09/09
      47.   ready to die for israel 08:52  |  colin 03/09/09
      48.   A decision that might cost many victims. 09:31  |  B. Gold 03/09/09
      49.   Getting ready for October? 09:54  |  Maureen Ann 03/09/09
      50.   Ever heard of Frankenstein?! 10:00  |  ClearCut 03/09/09
      51.   11000 Thousand palastenia Prisoners 10:55  |  Bill 03/09/09
      52.   Is Barak ready to die for Israel? 10:56  |  English Resident 03/09/09
      53.   Chris, com to Israel, become a citizen, then enter the Knesset 11:00  |  Israeli citizen 03/09/09
      54.   The same goes for Dutch Dirk: knoweverything plummer 11:02  |  Israeli citizen 03/09/09
      55.   Why not be honest for once, Barak? 11:04  |  Johnboy 03/09/09
      56.   mark of Lewinston: so what? Only American culture? 11:05  |  Israeli citizen 03/09/09
      57.   execute bhargouti! 11:23  |  Ibriheem 03/09/09
      58.   They write posts here to gave us lessons on life 11:28  |  Israeli citizen 03/09/09
      59.   Gilad Shalit 11:30  |  Arie Heide 03/09/09
      60.   barak is fair and right 11:34  |  the fixer 03/09/09
      61.   Well, yes, English #48, when he was an active soldier... 13:59  |  Esther 03/09/09
      62.   #29 Joseph E 15:05  |  Chris Linthwaite 03/09/09
      63.   is it realy necessary 16:41  |  oz 03/09/09
      64.   But we are talking of all POWs being exchanged... 16:46  |  Smadar 03/09/09
      65.   #29 how many innocent was killed by this illegal occupation 17:05  |  le mouel 03/09/09
      66.   any other option? 19:49  |  abi zaid 03/09/09
      67.   LE MOUEL is that all?not say Haifa or All Jerusalem Jewfree 03:31  |  PETER SM 04/09/09
      68.   BOSTON good neighbours do not send suicide bombers 03:39  |  PETER SM 04/09/09
      69.   Bushido requires honor and commitment to justice 03:55  |  Mark Lincoln 04/09/09
      70.   It is true, Ehud Barak once took big chances 03:57  |  Mark Lincoln 04/09/09
      71.   It is true, Ehud Barak once took big chances 03:57  |  Mark Lincoln 04/09/09
      72.   Arie Haeide 03:59  |  Mark Lincoln 04/09/09
      73.   To VIPER... 18:40  |  Silvienne 04/09/09
      74.   Gilad Shallit`s confinement 01:43  |  Carole, UK 05/09/09
      75.   Barak has more guts than most writing here 02:14  |  *BEN JABO 05/09/09
      76.   #65 le mouel 06:09  |  *BEN JABO 05/09/09
      77.   Mark Lincoln & Mark of Lewiston 06:18  |  *BEN JABO 05/09/09
      78.   #73 Silvienne - Why should Israel give it back VOLUNTARILY? 17:38  |  *BEN JABO 05/09/09
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