Opinion
Not at any price
Shlomo Engel
Published: 08.04.07, 12:18
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54 Talkbacks for this article
1. No words. Finally, someone talking sane on the issue
Jonathan M. Boyko ,   Ofrah, Israel   (04.08.07)
2. Make Palestinians Pay A Price.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (04.08.07)
We should not negotiate any release of prisoners. Instead we should steadily increase harsh measures until Shalit is released. Seal off Gaza totally. Arrest all members of the PA gov't. including Haniyeh. Begin destroying gov't. infrastructure, bit by bit. Target the assets of gov't. officials including their homes. They should understand that there are NO limits to what we can do. This is deterrence. But our crappy gov't. headed by the trio of losers, Olmert, Peretz, & Livni is too weak to do anything except surrender. Disgusting.
3. benifit vs reality
Jonathan ,   Jerusalem   (04.08.07)
THe sad reality is that every deal made with terriorists since 93' where captured terrorists were released led to more killings of innocent civilans. My heart goes out to every MIA family but the fact is you can't release anyone, the cost will be too high.
4. Shut up, all of you....
Soldier ,   Jerusalem   (04.08.07)
It's so simple to say that when you are in capture stayin in Gaza or I don't know where... and sitting in your rooms with air conditioner on... try to think that this soldier is one of your kids or brothers and try again Shlomo...
5. Engel: well said, loud and clear !!!!!!!!
gabriela ben ari   (04.08.07)
6. Hang Em High is the Answer
Dave Levy ,   Burbank. USA   (04.08.07)
Pollard is like comparing oranges and apples, it's just not the same. Pollard is incarcerated for a crime he comitted against US. The Israeli did nothing but defend his country, in his country. As far as releasing prisoners with blood on their hands, or otherwise, the problem lies partly with Israeli policy. instead of handing Barghouti and others, they live lives of comfort in Israeli jails, knowing that they may be released per some deal. The Brits bowed to the Iranians and got 15 back. Releasing prisoners by Israel could be considered similarly. But both countries will pay a price. Israel has to weigh the price. Oh, why did Israel release those Hamas members so quickly? It's partly Israel's fault I hate to say.
7. I Agree
Shimon ,   Cincinatti, USA   (04.08.07)
Mr. Engel, I absolutely agree with you. That's why I believe YOU should be exchanged for him. That way, the price wouldn't be too high at all. In fact, it would be "dirt cheap"! Before you write your next column, ask his mother and father what the price of a child should be.
8. Be VERY Careful
Shimon ,   Cincinnati, USA   (04.08.07)
You probably don't have children. Otherwise, you wouldn't be so brave with the blood of others. Be careful: G-d has a strange sense of humor. You might just end up in the Shalit's position.
9. Time to pay the piper
R saus ,   Canada   (04.08.07)
They are absurd in their demands, with no concept of honor or justice.. Just let them know the price they piggishly set is the price they will also pay, kill an Israeli in the future and Israel should kill their going rate in return - 1000 for 1, as determined by the PA itself.
10. then, we will keep them
Ahmad Abouali ,   Nablus   (04.08.07)
well, then we have no choice but to sentence those soldiers to life in hard labor until our abducted men and women, (do not forget children) come home. the ball is in your court.
11. 1,150 terrorists ! are they real TERRORISTS ?
Atilla Karagözoğlu ,   Istanbul   (04.08.07)
how many percent of them, KILLER ? how many percent of them, women ? how many percent of them, young as Gilad ? how many percent of them, innocent ? do they have Father, mothers ? do they have doughters and sons ? what they wished to do ? ARE THEY SOLDIERS ! OR CIVILIANS ? do you care ? Atilla Karagözoğlu
12. Hit Gaza hard and good until they can't no more!
(04.08.07)
We've done plenty to appease them!!!! Why do we always have to pay the steep price of their terrorist behavior?! Expectations, demands and no-nonesense appraoch should be applied!
13. To Shlomo Engel and the others who say don't swap Gilad
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (04.08.07)
I ask you two simple questions. 1. What would you say if YOUR son was being held by Hamas or Hezbollah? 2. Do you think that by not freeing 1,000 or 5,000 Palestinian prisoners and letting Gilad suffer for who knows how long will change the hatred that the terrorist have for Israel? The answer to the first question is that Gilad Shalit is a son of Israel who the Army sent into a war zone. He did his duty and now he is in mortal danger. Gilad Shalit is a son. He is not only the son of Mr. and Mrs. Shalit he is the son of all of us. Yes, it’s easy to sit at home on Pesach and say we don't deal with terrorists. We then eat until we burst and go about our daily business. Not so for the Shalit family. Not so for the Goldwassers and the Regevs and let's not forget about the families of Ron, Zacharia, Zvi and Yehudah. To be righteous is one thing, to be wise is something else. We are Jews and we believe that life is sacred. We risk the lives of other so save our own, sometimes with disastrous consequences. We don’t leave soldiers on tha battlefield. Now that one of our own could be freed without risking others, let's think again. I too have been critical of Noam Shalit but in hindsight I ask myself by what right do I have to criticize a man who is moving heaven and hell to save his kid? Wouldn’t you do the same? Those who say that freeing Palestinian prisoners will only bring on more terror should think again. The only reason that there is "less" terror is because of the actions of the IDF and the security forces. You could have 20,000 prisoners here in Israel and they will still keep on trying to kill and maim our men, women and children. So, the ideal situation is to stick to our guns and not to do an excahnge but before you do that, please remember that we are Jews, secular, religious or couldn't care a damn and we respect life, unlike our foe who only respects death. We must give Gilad a chance. Nine months in the hands of terrorists! Bring him home and hope that the others will join us shortly too.
14. PAinfully Sad but TRUE
malcolm   (04.08.07)
15. SHLOMO ENGEL I LIKE YOUR ARTICLE.
YOM ,   USA   (04.08.07)
16. I say we open the jails.
Peace Promoter   (04.08.07)
I say we open the jails and make a israeli firing squad to squelch this line em up and dust em innocent or not untill they give up shalit.
17. Blackmail, Intimidation & No will to Resist
ilana   (04.08.07)
I agree - there should be NO prisoner swap. This hasproven ineffective in the past as a deterrant to kidnapping. If Israel tood a stand on this issue, spoke publically to the world and said Israel will not be blackmailed or intimidated any longer, things would change. Yes, this is difficult on the families, but in war - not everyone comes home. Stop this insanity!!! State there is NO swap. Leave this in the hands of Abbas, Hamas and daddy Bush and Condi candy. THEN the world will see the brutal, animal acts of the terrorists Bush is funding and Israel is sooooo fearful of!!
18. REMEMBER SKAKED AVRAHAM THE 7 MONTH OLD BABY.
TOM BENS ,   USA   (04.08.07)
SHE WAS KILLED BY MAHMOUD HAMDAN.THIS EVENT HAPPEND IN 11/27/03.HAMDAN WAS RELEASED IN THE PRISON EXCHANGE.AND THE REASON Y HE WAS FREED BEACUSE HE HAD NO BLOOD IN HIS HANDS.
19. Israel must exploit the weaker position of the Arabs
Uzi ,   Haifa   (04.08.07)
The Arab leadership is under pressure of many thousands of families because for each prisoner they specify for release they leave a dozen others in prison. And while they 'negotiate' more than a thousand prisoners Israel offer to release stay in jail.
20. blackmail
dan ,   gua   (04.08.07)
sure it's easy to persuade opinions by bringing up Gilad's family. "would you like it?" of course not. but it's senseless. i wouldn't like my daughter to be killed 2 months after the swap, by a convicted terrorist that was released because the gov is too weak to find another way to get Gilad back. No need to negotiate. Israel has got the upper hand. Show them!
21. To #20 Dan - The killing won't stop - either way
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (04.08.07)
The tragedy is that the Arabs want Israel from Metulla to Eilat and it makes no difference if we free the prisoners or not. They will not stop terror and we will not stop hitting back. However, my point is why waste another Jewish life? We lost 6,000,000 once and the world still hates Jews. The question is who do you release. I would never release terrorists with "blood on their hands" like Samir Kuntar and Sadat. Economics come into play as well. How much does it cost to keep this lot here? To me as a father and as an Israeli, life is precious and Jewish lives are not expendable. I think most of us agree on that.
22. The Zenith Of An Immoral Regime Is Measured By Their Actions
Adina Kutnicki ,   US   (04.08.07)
This is an OUTSTANDING article. It cuts to the heart of the immoral calculus that Israel's leaders are willing to enter. While freeing all the captive soldiers is of utmost urgency it must be done through military actions once diplomacy fails. Why isn't Olmert ordering the most adanced commando units on such a mission? Missions such as these are exactly what they are SUPPOSED to do. It is an absolute travesty to release captured ! terrorists to secure the release of our own through 'negotiations/blackmail'. The private pain of any family in such a situation is unimaginable. But the collective pain of the country whereby hundreds/thousands of murderers will kill again is more unimaginable. Furthermore, not doing anything to secure the release of Pollard who sacrificed EVERYTHING for Israel attests to the fact that the leadership would rather 'negotiate' with Hamas/Fatah/Hizbullah than with our ally the US. Now isn't THAT the height of immorality?
23. Shitlomo I agree with you !
(04.09.07)
24. #21
dan ,   gua   (04.09.07)
You are right in everything you said. I value life very much also. But I also believe every terrorist you release from prison will try to kill as many israeli civilians as possible. How come England did not have to release any prisoners to get back their 15 soldiers? There must be other ways. Giving into them will only promote more kidnapping. Israel is a very powerful country. It should not have to put up with blackmail. And as for the economics, why don't you apply capital punishment? Why should the Israelis have to pay for these people's food, shelter and security? Palestinians are already trying to kill you (us) all.
25. No release of killers, no Jew would be safe in Israel.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Santa Monica,CA USA   (04.09.07)
26. SHALIT
BORUCH HOFFINGER ,   BROOKLYN NY   (04.09.07)
B"H The state of Israel is a 'Chelm' state. That says it all.
27. this is the diffucult truth
alan ,   frisco   (04.09.07)
The writer gives us not only the legal precidents but also shows us the policies behind them. For all the sympathy that is with the families of the captives and their daily unimaginable grief, can a sober look at this situation and the knowledge that past large releases of terrorists has resulted in the released killing more innocent civilians lead to any other conclusion that there must be proportionality. One Jew, no matter how precious to us all, can be worth 100 terrorists who will come back to kill again. If Olmert et al go for this deal as it is being advertized, the government must be voted out forthwith.
28. any price
sas ,   israel   (04.09.07)
TODAY we should pay any price and everyprice to get the soldiers back. we got them there - it is our duty to bring them back home! we were dumb enough to get involved - so we have to pay for it.
29. 7 Shimon, dont you think you should talk to those that
freedom ,   canada   (04.09.07)
have been affected by Barghouti. Which is the greater evil. Talk to the victims of Palestinian terror, and get back to me. You fight a losing argument.
30. 10 In Gods eyes, those that are in Israeli jails,
freedom ,   canada   (04.09.07)
likely should be in jail. Ahmad when is the PA leaving the occupied city of Bethlehem. Have a nice day.
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