Netanyahu's brother-in-law: Free Shalit through war, not talks
Hagai Ben Artzi argues with Noam Shalit; Ron Arad's wife: Bringing Shalit back home is Israel's 'moral duty.'
By Jonathan Lis and Barak Ravid Tags: Gilad Shalit Ron Arad Israel newsPrime Minister Netanyahu's brother-in-law, Hagai Ben Artzi, confronted the father of abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit as he awaited a decision by senior ministers on a deal to secure the release of his son.
"I have come here to strengthen the Prime Minister and support the path he has expounded over the last few years," Ben-Artzi, a prominent right-winger, told Noam Shalit at a protest tent opposite Netanyahu's office in Jerusalem.
"I hope that we will be able to release Gilad during the next war in Gaza," he said.
Noam Shalit asked him in response to forecast when the next war in the coastal strip would take place, to which Ben Artzi answered "either in two months, or in six months."
Lawmakers also visited at the protest tent to support the Shalit family. But MKs Yaacov Katz and Michael Ben Ari (National Union) said that they believed that Gilad should have been released in a military operation, "and not by cravenly flattering the enemy."
Meanwhile, the wife of missing Israel Air Force navigator Ron Arad on Monday urged the government to reach a deal for Shalit's release.
"If he fought and was taken prisoner, our moral duty is to save him," Tami Arad told Army Radio. "In my view, the decision should be reached according to an ethical code."
Her husband was captured by Lebanese militants after his plane went down over Lebanon in 1986; subsequent efforts to negotiate his release or at least determine his fate have failed.
Arad rejected the notion that Hamas would demand less from Israel if the deal were postponed to a later date. "I'm not sure there would be someone to bring back," she said.
"The fact that today they show Gilad alive doesn't say that he will be alive [then]. Ron's incident shows that when it is possible to bring someone back, you need to bring him back and not wait - because a captive's time isn't a security certificate, it's the exact opposite."
Shalit was kidnapped by Palestinian militants in a 2006 cross-border raid and has been held by Hamas in Gaza since then.
On Sunday, the abducted soldier's parents spoke of Arad's "tragedy" in a fresh appeal to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
"We plead you not to repeat the tragedy of Ron Arad, God forbid we add to this wound which was seared onto Israeli society, and has seen sorrow for generations," Noam and Aviva Shalit wrote to the premier, in a letter they delivered in person to his Jerusalem office.
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thank Hammas for the over 1000 terrorist list and give them all back right away-dead. In the USA they where all be executed,time to learn from America, raather then collect handouts.
the way to free Shalit - Air attacks on Hammas leaders until they free him
Of all the alternatives propounded so far, this is the best. FREE SHALIT THROUGH WAR, but FREE SHALIT AT ALL COSTS.
Not a drop of water, not a kilowatt of electricity nor a liter of cooking oil should be supplied to Gaza till Gilad Shalit is home safe and sound. To avoid this problem in the future, all captured terrorists should be immediately and summarily executed.
Are we given to understand that Mr. Ben Artzi is volunteering for the front lines in the stead of Gilad? Kol Ha Kavod !
1 israeli = 1000 palestinans. this is an exchange rate. it means that an israeli life is worth worth 1000x more than a palestinian life. this is what hamas is confirming with this deal. another way to put it is that one israeli toenail is worth more than one palestinian (ie 1/1000 israeli = 1 palestinian).
Society. Gilad Shalit should be freed, but so should thousands of Palestinians. The Israeli public's consuming desire to free Gilad is to be commended. The Israeli public's blind eye to the suffering of the Palestinians is unforgivable.
... towards a strategy that would result in Gilads pre-ordained death...
... he knows full well that this is no Entebbe escapade... neither the surprise element nor the logistics... in fact it would be a pre-ordained death sentence for Gilad, G*d forbid...
Michael Ben Ari (National Union)has votes against gay rights and gay marriage in Israel. For this alone, he is to be shunned and dispised.
Your insightful posts are well worth reading...thank you!
To Natalie Durson: "Many agree with your palestian leaning, but you you do youself no favours by exploring the possibilty that some Israelis also agree with it" What rubbish. Many Israelis do indeed agree that the occupation should be ended and a Palestinian State created...
Much as it's painful, the kidnapping of Shalit, to negotiate with terrorists has very serious consequences and that includes more deaths to other Jewish families. Use your heads...common sense has to tell all of you out there that dealing with terrorists is not good. These terrorists do not recognize Israel's right to exist, and since the 1970's they have launched a determined effort to de-ligitimize the Jewish state and ultimately destroying same. For the sake of Israel and its security don't negotiate.
it hamas attacks citizens their terrorists. if they attack or capture soldiers their terrorist. do you think hamas should just use bb guns while isreal uses helicopters and drones. its war if you don t like it make peace and maybe there won't have to go threw this
A real siege or blockade of Gaza could be used to make Hamas pay a meaningful price for holding Shalit hostage. Palestinian propaganda and the international media incessantly whine that Gaza is under siege although it is still receiving water, electricity, gas, food and medicine from Israel. The kidnapping of Gilad Shalit is a humanitarian crisis for his family and all of Israel. Perhaps it will take a humanitarian crisis in Gaza to secure his freedom. That is what Hamas has been asking for and it is time for them to get it.
These posters live in Canada and New York. Ignore them, they have never lived under occupation or know what the meaning of resistance is. You have done well brothers, You are bringing back 1000 Palestinians who were captured by the war criminal Zionists. Bravo!
How much more of the International community does Israel need to aggravate before Obama pulls the plug on your "self sustained state" financially. Being a proxy of the US with religious fanatics with itchy trigger fingers will only lead to more isolation and you will probably keep wondering why the world hates Israel.
children more than they love Palestinian land.
Wow, a genius is among us! Let me bow before him. Einstein what do you think they do on a daily basis? They arrest police officers dressed in Hamas attire and young adults who attend universities and call them Hamas terrorists. Nothing new to see here kids, move on to the next article...
so you propose to do the same thing yet you think you are better? that worked out well with Barghuti, didn't it?? again, been there, done that.........israel currently is holding 11,000 prisoners.
I got a solution. Capture a few hundred Hamas suspects every few days until Gilad is released. Ha? How about that? Am I a genius or what? I should be prime min of Israel.
It has become obvious that it was a mistake for Israel to bow to the pressure of the international community before Hamas' ability and desire to make war were eliminated. Next time that Israel goes into Gaza, and for sure there will be a next time, Israel won't make the mistake of being so gentle and restrained.
you say yourselve that he was in jail and had not participate in the killing so what is exactly your point? That all Jews (Israelis) must be hold accountable? Are you suggesting that all Palestinians can be targetted to avenge Hamas/PLO crimes in Israel or Lebanon? Then stop whining when it happens.
NOT NOAM SHALIT'S SORRY FOLKS
Wow... did any of the recent "wars" fought by Israel produced any sort of positive effects? The Lebanon invasion strengthened the Hezbollah's hold instead of crippling them as it was intended. The most recent Gaza (re)invasion did little to stem militant activity and actually destroyed much international support of Israel due to antics such as using Palestinian civilians as human shields and burning people with white phosphorous shells. But hey, another few wars, and Israel could get back a body bag, if not anything at all.
Most of the time,in Laws are bad news.This time howewer,the in Law is right.Before rolling the tanks,Israel has to ask hammas if they want to free our man,or end the misery of a million of their people...They cannot be that stupid...
Send in commandos, kidnap a Hamas VIP and trade him for Shalit. All other terrorist prisoners remain prisoners. More of this is what one can expect when Hamas controls west bank.
Is the rest of the reasons you put in your response.Read it and agreed with every point within it. Thanks
israeli government actions make no sense at all. they should have agreed a deal to free this young man along time ago. instead they think it will set a bad example. israel and the palistinians wil always have conflict. whether shalit was released a week after he was captured or ten years after will make no difference to palistanians taking another prisoner. it just shows how cold and stupid the israelis thinking is, and no regard at all for this young man kept prisoner for years.
Netanyahu's brother-in-law needs locking up along with the rest of the idiots whether they be Israeli or Palestinian....then maybe, just maybe your to peoples will find peace together and be able to concentrate on real issues like global warming.
It is a moral disgrace...other soldiers have died to capture terrorists & protect Israel in the past, it is a disgrace other parents have lost their children at the hands of these terrorists about to be set-free, it is a disgrace Israel has fallen from it's world status of being a formidable force NOT to reckon with, it is a disgrace Israel will loose all respect in the eyes of the world, it is a disgrace an innocent soldier was captured... that the nation was not praying for safety...or repenting & seeking their God-Yeshua then this tragity may not have happened, it is a disgrace people can be bought with a price... that a bowl of Esau's stew is still on the Israeli market today ! It is a disgrace to the God of Israel...God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob... the merriment will last a day...the the effects ... reality will set in... will haunt Israel for days, weeks, months, years to come! What a Shame!
Hamas should demand all 12000 Palestinian Freedom Fighers be freed, including women and children. There are 12000 Palestinian families that are weeping as we speak, but have we heard of their anguish? Do we know their names? Have we seen their faces?
Durson, you really don't help matters at all. Given that you so vehemenlty expound your views in this forum, it might be helpful if for once, you could execute some form of objectivity. Many agree with your palestian leaning, but you you do youself no favours by exploring the possibilty that some Israelis also agree with it. If you were a politician, you would be Sarah Palin. Think about it.
Whoa!!..... Hold on a second..... Another war in Gaza is being planned!!??? Ok - It breaks the hearts of all observers to see Shalit still in captivity, but to assume that his freedom is hung upon another devestaing assault on Gaza is LUDICROUS! Please Israel, don't support this action. It is built on revenge and retaliation. Do you really want o bomb the ruble of Gaze in the hope that it will free your soldier? This is so wrong. The world is watching you Israel. Don't kill Gazan's thinking that Shalit will be released.
all regret it
Free Shalid can be a simbol, a positive simbol that Israel want peace and negotiation. It can be as a first step to begin further negotiations for peace. Returning palestinian prisioners at home also can mean that Israel and Palestinians could open a new page. Both steps should be done, first to save the live of Shalit and second to be able to sit together with Hamas. In that way there will not ground to make suicides attacks. Now is the time to save the israel soldier and to make return palestinians prisioners at home
According to an article I read on Debkafile 3 months ago, Shalit is hidden in a cellar, with only one entry, protected by a heavy metal door, and that is wired all across the room with explosives. To enter the room, one needs to insert a card and type a code. There is only one copy of the card, that is situated on one guard, and the code is known by another. If the door is blown open, the whole building is set to explode and kill anyone inside it, including shalit. That means, that there is no possible way of getting Shalit alive without negotiation.
only and not asking ours to fight his war. Knowing his theology I can guess he is willing to sacrifice a lot of other people's time, money and family.
I can understand people want Gilad Shalit released, but a war could lead to the death of some IDF soldiers. So, if a war is launched to rescue a soldier who is held captive and a few soldiers die, then you defeat the whole point of the rescue. Also, more Gazan civilians would be killed, which lead to more anger from non-Jews and Jews outside of Israel. It would be pointless.
Whatever is done in this instance matters not any longer. What matters is the policy adopted by Israel for dealing with such cases in the future. I am not sure that Israelis want to develop a policy and stick to it. Everyone wants to have two opinions. Sorry , but one cannot have one's cake and eat it too.
Israel has killed hundreds of innocent Palestinian civilians, including many children since Shalits capture. If Shalit ever sees the light of day again, then the Palestinians are being much too kind.
What do Jewish ethicist actually say about the morality of the Shalit deal?
Israel should deal with Hamas only thru mouth of rifle or cutting off all water and electricity. Disgrace to give in to terror and release all these murderers.
What else can one think? What an angry, vindictive country. How is peace possible with this ilk? How can people live in peace with the likes of this one quoted pontificating in full arrogance to the father of Gilad Shalit. A pathetic society on the skids.
As much as I'd like Shalit back I think PARENTS should keep out of it. Who is running this country? I think Noam Shalit's brother-in -law is right. GET SHALIT BACK THROUGH WAR. My proposal is:Release one prisoner at a time,kill them,and then another,and another.We'll then see how hamas would like the proposition of their PLAYING games WITH THE FEELINGS OF THE PARENTS.on their side.
Israel must protect it's citizens and not put them in danger by rewarding terrorist/hostage takers by freeing serial killers who live to kill innocent Jews.
Why don't any of those who so violently oppose a trade of Shalit for terrorist prisoners offer themselves or a member of their families up in exchange for Shalit? Would they feel the same way if the shoe, so to speak, were on their foot?
As sad as the Gilad Shalit case is, to wait for Bibi to strike a deal, is like waiting for G*d. The greatest window dresser israeli politics has ever produced.He should be working in the TA Dizingof Center as window dresser and not in the Knesset.
One person cannot hold an entire country hostage, especially when that country would have to release every terrorist held captive. 1,000 for 1? The math and the aftermath doesn't make sense. Yes, I as a father would want the government to do all it can to bring my child home. But when Shallit signed up for the IDF, he knew the rules going in. Carelessness led to his capture. What if 1,000 were freed and Shallit was returned dead? What if 1,000 were freed and they in turn killed hundreds of Jews and Israeli because they went back to their old tricks. Is that worth it? The answer is no.
If only it where so easy? What about the 'moral duty to those who already lost a loved one, what about the 'moral duty to future victims from these 'let free murderes, what about the 'moral duty to the "status of Israel as a strong country, what about the 'moral duty of being a safe country, what about the 'moral duty to the pledge "we don't negotiate with terrorists"? Letting these terrorists go free will make a 'mockery of Israel because of all the aspects above. The ONLY moral duty a STATE has is to protect ALL it's citizens, not one, as sad, cruel and heartbreaking as it is.
Israel is not what it was years ago . In the past the leadership did what had to be done. Operation Opera.....Bombing Iraq's Nuclear plant.........Operation Entebbe and many more. The fastest whay to bring Shalit home is for Israel to go and Kidnap Ismail Haniyah and a few of his senior partners.With in one week Ismail will be back in Gaza and Shalit back home . Just do it.
The parents of all kidnapped soldiers will feel there should be no price to high to pay for my son, pay any price the terrorists demand & more all that matters is my boy. A responsible government says to the parents we will do everything we can to get your son back but you must also understand every man has a price and we cannot say no price is to high. Its the painful thing to do and doesn't make for good newspaper headlines but its responsible and how a government should act. Be willing to pay a price but a reasonable one and be willing to say no deal. I spoke with my mother about this and asked what she would feel if it was me who had been taken. Her reply was as a mother she would say I would want the government to be willing to pay any price to get you back your my son but she understands that for the government has to consider the good of the majority and base its decisions on that. We don't elect governments to base policies of the emotions of individuals.
Bring gilad Shalit home ASAp and don't forget Ron Arad either.