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del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 09:21 26/12/2007 The prisoner exchange rate: 400 Palestinians for every Israeli By Shahar Ilan Tags: Hamas, prisoners "The question is not just what you tell the families of the kidnapped soldiers, but what you tell the families of the dead," says MK Yisrael Hasson (Yisrael Beiteinu), a former deputy chief of the Shin Bet security service. Hasson was referring to the potential casualties who will die as a result of actions initiated by senior members of terror organizations released in the expected deals to free the hostages. "It's true that these dead are still anonymous, and nor will the public know that they died because of the prisoner exchange deal," Hasson says. "But you must also look the families of the dead straight in the eye." Advertisement Over the past 18 months, the families of the kidnapped soldiers have taken on sacred-cow status in Israeli public opinion. The result is that we usually hear the families' demands to do everything to free their sons, without hearing any voice countering that we must not pay any price. Still, it is obvious that the moment a deal is reached there will be fierce criticism of the price, the number of prisoners released, and especially the release of "terrorists with blood on their hands." Two traumas lie buried in the subconscious of any discussion of a deal to release soldiers taken prisoner or kidnapped: the Jibril deal of 1985, in which 1,150 prisoners and detainees, including murderers, were exchanged for three Israeli soldiers; and the Tannenbaum deal, in which 430 prisoners and detainees, including those considered important bargaining chips, were exchanged for the abducted Israeli civilian and three bodies. You might say the established rate is 400 detainees per Israeli. "Look how many people returned for life sentences from the Jibril deal," Hasson says. "More than 30 people were killed as a results of the release of Islamic Jihad people in the Jenin region in the Tannenbaum deal. A hundred and something were wounded. It is a terrible thing." Hasson thinks that instead of negotiating for the kidnapped soldiers' release, Israel must create a balance of deterrence - create a situation in which no senior Hamas member would be able to walk on the street in Gaza until Gilad Shalit has been freed, or kidnap a Hezbollah member every month. "It can't be that the only option is negotiations," he says. "If we didn't release them, we wouldn't pay with casualties? Where's the proof?" asks Kadima MK and retired IDF general Prof. Yitzhak Ben Yisrael, who is a strategic security expert. "Nobody can say what might have happened if the Tannenbaum deal had not taken place," concurs retired general and former Mossad chief Dani Yatom, a Labor MK. "What is clear is that the terrorists' motivation never declines. We hit them hard and they shoot; kill them and they shoot. I don't see that their motivation has gone up or down as a result of their succeeding or not to release prisoners." Prof. Shlomo Breznitz, a University of Haifa psychologist and world-class expert on stressful situations, was until recently an MK from Kadima. He says he does not accept the claim that the source of Israelis' strength is their sensitivity to the individual. "That is one of our main weak points - we are fighting a cruel enemy and tie our own hands," Breznitz says, adding: "In the Second Lebanon War a division's assault came to a halt because of two wounded soldiers. It is totally absurd." Breznitz, known to be close to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, says that Olmert must tell the families of the kidnapped soldiers that Israel cannot afford the mammoth deals, that this is impossible under the present circumstances. "The prime minister finds himself a victim of decades-old policy. You cannot expect him to drop it just like that. He is helpless." Bookmark to del.icio.us Santa's helpers Foreign workers hope for citizenship for Christmas. He's ba-ack In a new audio tape Bin Laden vows to free Palestine.   1.   value of man 08:48  |  colin 26/12/07   2.   400 to 1 10:49  |  Cool 26/12/07   3.   Tannenbaum wasn`t worth a trade 01:45  |  Sam 27/12/07   4.   Israel should learn from Turks in similar situation... 04:27  |  Misha 27/12/07   5.   # 4 Misha 21:24  |  Libnanee 27/12/07   6.   prison 17:20  |  rahil 28/12/07   7.   Olmert is Helpless? 19:33  |  Ron 28/12/07   8.   the prisoner exchange rate: 400 Pals for every Israeli 07:51  |  Martin List, M.D. 29/12/07   9.   Exchange 14:14  |  Stella 29/12/07   10.   Place your bets ladies and gentlemen 16:03  |  Gideon Reader 29/12/07   11.   to # 2, #4 21:04  |  JJ 29/12/07   12.   400 to 1 02:40  |  Isca 30/12/07   13.   # 8 Martin List 07:39  |  JJ 30/12/07

Today Online 2 Israelis killed, one hurt in W. Bank shooting attack Responses: 593 Benn, Rosner: Israel needs a 'Rice bypass road' to White House Responses: 182 PM to Abbas: Israel will not undermine peace efforts Responses: 119 Akiva Eldar: Peace deal must start with prisoner release Responses: 125 IDF kills former PA premier's bodyguard during W. Bank raid Responses: 101 New version of old defense group guards Jewish farmlands Responses: 61 More Headlines 07:27 PM plans to halt E. J'lem tenders, okay Har Homa 04:34 Soldiers killed on hike in West Bank eulogized for courage 07:41 ANALYSIS / Nipping new W. Bank Jewish terror group in the bud 05:55 UNIFIL steps up supervision to deter Hezbollah re-armament 07:47 Tamir asks court to delay ruling on Haredi schools' curriculum 04:31 Bin Laden vows in Web audiotape he will 'expand jihad in Palestine' 07:56 Pinpointed IAF attacks on Gaza more precise, hurt fewer civilians 05:15 Pakistan rejects foreign assistance in Bhutto assassination probe 06:36 Women in Black marks 20th year, but occupation continues 05:29 Gov't: 5,000 people have entered Israel illegally from Sinai in 2007 Previous Editions Select Day 28 dec 27 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec 23 dec 21 dec 20 dec 19 dec 18 dec 17 dec 16 dec

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