Critics of Israel’s decision to exchange 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit predicted it would happen. And they were right. Israel’s Shin Bet — the country’s national security agency — announced today that two of those released in order to gain Shalit’s freedom were rearrested on terrorism-related charges. One was brought up on charges of buying illegal weapons while the other was part of a plot to commit more kidnappings of Israelis. This will, no doubt, lead to a chorus of “I told you so’s” from those who blasted Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to the lopsided exchange.
These two are probably just the tip of the iceberg in terms of recidivism. As was the case with past prisoner exchanges, there is every expectation that many more of those released in order to save Shalit will be back trying to kill Israelis before long. But though this will lead many of those who were opposed to the trade to believe this discredits Netanyahu’s choice, they will discover the vast majority of Israelis who approved it probably won’t change their minds. The possibility that many, if not most, of the released prisoners would not abide by the terms of the deal was raised in advance of the exchange and acknowledged by its supporters, if not Netanyahu himself. Yet the same reasons that led this point to be discounted last year still apply.
The first is that although the return of these terrorists to their deadly trade tells us a lot about the Palestinians, it is not as if these two or all thousands of those given up for Shalit are filling a void in the ranks of Hamas or any other group. Though their experience may be helpful as veteran cadres, there was and is no shortage of recruits to join them. That means that any casualties incurred by the actions of the freed terrorists would probably have happened even if they had never been let go. It simply isn’t fair to assert that Shalit’s life was bought with the blood of others.
Even more importantly, most Israelis still believe Shalit’s life was worth even an exorbitant price. The idea of a leaving an ordinary youngster who had been drafted into the service of his country to die was simply unacceptable. Though these imbalanced exchanges may make no sense to the rational dispassionate observer who may well say they only encourage future kidnappings (such as those the released prisoner was plotting), Israelis believe it is immaterial to the main question of doing everything to ensure that no solider is ever left behind.
A better question to be asked today is why the Palestinian leadership continues to encourage such activities. The general celebration of the release of convicted killers by the Palestinian population illustrated that their devotion to a culture of violence is unchanged. So long as that is true, they will continue to produce such killers. That fact gives the lie to the charges that the lack of peace is Israel’s fault. It is this awful insight into the mindset of the Palestinians that will determine whether future generations of Israelis will be forced to fight and their leaders presented with unpalatable dilemmas such as that faced by Netanyahu.
Thoughtful analysis, I've always thought that such unbalanced exchanges were simply wrong. There's another aspect – it's a boost for the morale of the troops which, in itself, may be a greater benefit than the bad faith of released prisoners is a drawback.
The solution is obvious: kill them rather than capture them. It's done all the time in war when capture is dangerous or not practical.
Golda Meir said the Israeli Government shouldn't negotiate with terrorists if even she were kidnapped while Prime Minister. That concept animated Israeli policy viz terrorism for decades. That it has changed has made all Israelis more vulnerable to the depredations of the ''Palestinians.'' n How naive to blame the murderous ''Palestinians'' for the problem, when it is the softening of Israeli policy that is the true culprit here. Turning over Gaza was a terrible blunder as was the exchange of a thousand murderers for Shalit.
It is interesting to note how the Israeli Gov’t elected to change the dynamics with the Palestinian’s in Gaza, which led directly to the abduction of Private Shalit. To blame the “palestinians” is in a sense, ridiculous. When given a chance, this is what they prefer to do with their time, money and lives of themselves and their families. No Tobin, you are wrong. Israel is to blame for the enormity of it’s stupidity. Tobin deserves alot of credit for raising all of the issues he does, in such a profoundly articulate and clever way. My position is that Israel has been mis-managed, okay. Look, when Israel withdrew from the entire Sinai, under Camp David Accords, it was supposed to be getting something in return. It never raised Egypt’s abject refusal to follow through on it’s “peace” treaty. It was not a mere cessation in hostilities, it had received a “peace treaty”. Yet, it was always a “cold” peace. Now the Egyptians have learned that they can elect a Islamic Fundamentalist gov’t, which has made it clear it plans to abrogate it’s so called “peace treaty” with Israel…and what the US approves the 3 plus billion in aid anyway, where is the outrage? Same thing with Oslo. Israel should have stuck up for itself and pointed out the glaring contradiction between arafat’s words in english and his actions, as well as his words in arabic, the opposite pole.
Sharon forced Israel to withdraw from Gaza and did not place a mechanism into effect which would see to it that the homeland front would be properly sealed and protected from what Gaza was damn sure to become. Sharon did it but he had help and I remember who allowed Sharon to walk Israel down the primrose path which resulted in the withdrawal from Gaza, so does Mr. Tobin. These israeli politicians are shit, okay.
Kidnapping attempts will continue regardless of the status of Shalit.