Opinion
No more gestures
Miki Goldwasser
Published: 07.08.08, 10:21
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47 Talkbacks for this article
1. What about you?
Ivan ,   Haifa   (08.07.08)
Your son was exchanged and I supported it, now you should support the same for others, don't u think?
2. Miki Goldwasser for PM
Simon ,   TA the free city   (08.07.08)
We should make Miki Goldwasser PM im sure the country would get back on its feet again. This brave and courageous woman who has turned her mourning in to helping others, an example to us all!
3. Mikki is making more sense than Olmert
Hassa ,   Planet Earth   (08.07.08)
Mikki for PM. Olmert should cut the chase and get Gilad back home. Either rescue him if you know where he is; or exchange him for prisoners. And since Abbas cannot help us with his forces being routed in Gaza on a daily basis, why should we bother with him. After all, Abbas cares more about Dollars and Euro's than people.
4. No more gestures ?
Nora ,   Tel Aviv   (08.07.08)
No more gestures to Abbas ? You must be joking, Mrs Goldwasser. What about photo opportunities ? Olmert`s survival depends on that. At least, that`s what he thinks.
5. These aren't "good-will gestures"
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (08.07.08)
With all due respect, Mrs Goldwasser, these are not good-will gestures, they are cynical manipulations by a crooked politician, motivated only by political self-interest. As with so many issues, the only consideration is a facade, a charade, a scam. Olmert meeting with Abbas is a hoax - the peace process is moribund, as in "dead in the water." Both Olmert & Abbas are playing a game. I don't care much about the motives of the irrelevent Mr Abbas. Olmert, however, & those who support him, have made a bad bet. But, our differences with the Palestinians are irreconcilable. To keep up the charade, the meeting must have some result. Olmert is desparate to show some "progress" & the easiest is to release prisoners, as if this is some "achievement." As unpleasant as it is to face, you & your family as well as the families of the other hostages, are being used, manipulated, & turned into pawns in everyone elses game. Nothing is done by any of the parties involved in the interest of the hostages or of your families. That is the reality.
6. What makes her an expert?
JS   (08.07.08)
Because of her Israel was handed its latest humiliating defeat.
7. NO MORE GESTURES
newyorkone ,   new york, usa   (08.07.08)
Miki is absolutely right. Enough! We also deserve some gestures. How about an end to incitement in PA textbooks? How about denouncing imams who call us monkeys and pigs? How about releasing Gilad, or at least permitting the Red Cross to visit him? How about admitting that we have a claim to the land, and deserve to remain there? And then, maybe, how about negotiating a serious peace?
8. Well Spoken!
emanon ,   USA   (08.07.08)
My heart and prayers are with you Mrs. Goldwasser.
9. To No. 6: Blind and insensitive
Hassa ,   Planet Earth   (08.07.08)
Israel's latest humiliating defeat was caused by the arrogance and stupidity of its political leadership; not by the suffering of a woman who gave her son to her country.
10. #1 she says we shouldn't exchange terrorists for nothing
Daniel ,   Formerly Israel   (08.07.08)
I don't get what your problem is with her article
11. Sorry, but you never said this before your son was returned!
JAyyy ,   Israel   (08.07.08)
12. gilad shalit
jenny ,   jerusalem   (08.07.08)
Miki Goldwasser - you have said what we all feel. I cry every day for him and his family. Wake up Olmert , it far too late already
13. Those who are kind to the cruel....
BJL ,   US   (08.07.08)
In the end will be cruel to the kind.
14. Mrs. Goldwasser/ others
i ,   j   (08.07.08)
Olmert is not asleep that he needs to wake up, he doent need" to return to his senses." He cares not a fig for you or what 'the people" think. He will mumble some outrageous lie when the pressure is on, but only in self interest, and in the interest of the "other government" that pulls the marionette strings of our so-called leaders. Your problem is that you represent the public sentiment. Publics with sentiment, truth, and cohesiveness are the bane of tyrannies. Only small groups with destructive aims ( the Four Harlots, Peace Now, the Oslo gang et. al. can get the ear of the powers and move the process.
15. Gestures of Goodwill
Mr Arab ,   zefat Israel   (08.07.08)
I will give you gestures.You give me what I ask for and I will spit in your face.Hows that for a fair Deal?
16. #9
israeli ,   israel   (08.07.08)
Miki Goldwasser is not the only mother in Israel whose son has given his life for this country. There are more than 30,000 mothers like her who prefer to keep their opinions to themselves. It is high time Mrs. Goldwasser did the same, because she is degrading her son's memory. It looks to me that she is trying to launch a political career from her son's fresh grave.
17. micky goldwasser
ilana drori ,   rehovot,israel   (08.07.08)
she seems to be the only one on this country with guts to speak out abd ask for a change in our politics.where are all the others who think like her?
18. Too many goodwill gestures
Ana ,   Spain   (08.07.08)
I also wonder if the Shalit family and the other victims of pal terrorism don’t deserve any goodwill gesture from their own government. I agree with the article. Too many goodwill gestures in exchange for nothing.
19. Miki Goldwasser and pain
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (08.07.08)
I feel very sorry For this poor Womans Terrible loss.Now with that out of the way I'm going to be hard-hearted.The Nation paid a very steep price to get back her sons remains and she has suddenly had a Revelation and realised what bad Deals Israel insists on making time after time only to be repeatedly kicked in the Teeth by the other side.Goldwasser has finally smelled the coffee and has seen it is time to stop being suckers.So you have pain,So what .Do you think the Arabs dont feel pain when their children die in Battle,I bet they do.But they stay strong and do not cave in .What a pathetic bunch israelis really are.Sorry if this is tough love but ,Miki it is your pain ,stop asking others to pay the price .For your sons remains ,and we all knew he was Dead ,the nation had to pay any price but for Shalit we must not make any gestures? Sounds a bit Hypocritical to me.Sorry for harshness of my message but I think it is The truth.
20. Miki Goldwasser and False Humanity
Larry ,   zefat Israel   (08.07.08)
To Retrieve remains of your Son Miki Goldwasser was prepared to pay Heaven and Earth,but for Gilad Shalit israel must not make gestures? So much for her concern for Shalit.The price is worth paying only for Her flesh and Blood ,for others dont make gestures.
21. Miki finally sees the Light
Larry ,   zefat israel   (08.07.08)
Halleluyah.She is beginning to think with her Brain and not her Emotions.Olmert and Israel were hostage to emotional blackmail of Goldwasser and Regev families for 2 years.The more we are willing to pay Arabs for return of hostages the more Hostages they will continue to take.For us its pure emotion and tears ,for them purely Business .A Commodity .Accept this and act accordingly.
22. 15 Ilhamdulila, only if you spit in my face twice?
Soon to be Dhimmi ,   Soon to be al-Quds   (08.07.08)
You say 500 hundred Falasteenees for Gilad Shalit, how about I give you 1000 because I'm such a nice guy? You say you want half of Jerusalem? How about I give you all of it?
23. exchanges of bodies and captives
justice   (08.08.08)
With the greatest respect and sympathy for the families of this and other fallen soldiers, it is worth noting that Israel had also been keeping bodies - many more than Israel's enemies have ever kept and for many more years. In the last exchange Israel gave back 200 bodies, and it still has many more. And for the prisoners the equation is the same. The Palestinians have 1 Israeli and Israel has 8,500 Palestinians in its prisons - and more than 900 of them have never been charged with any crime or tried in a court of law; they are in fact being held as hostages. The crimes of the Palestinians do not make it right for Israel to commit the same crimes and on a larger scale.
24. Miki, Please go away and let us clean up your mess
Ilan ,   Ariel   (08.08.08)
The deal with Hizbolla set a precedent that will leave Shalit a prisoner until the IDF comes and takes him by force. Hamas thinks that we will "pay any price" just as you urged Israel to pay for your son's body. If Gilad's parents are as 'lucky' it will be a major accomplishment. Surrender doesn't ever lead to victory so take your white flag and and fade away from the public's view. You've done enough damage, thanks.
25. #1, that's not what she is saying
Danny   (08.08.08)
She is saying if we release prisoners it should be for something in return. However, the message it sends is that Hamas who carries out military strikes can free prisoners and Abbas who talks to us can't. We shouldn't be releasing prisoners full-stop. PS Yes, I know Fatah aren't exactly models of peace but at least there is the pretense of wanting to work with us.
26. #23, are you really that dumb?
Danny   (08.08.08)
The bodies returned to Hizbollah are of people who had infiltrated Israel and where killed there. Regev and Goldwasser were on Israel territory and Hizbollah came into Israeli territory and killed them and held them ransom. Most of the Palestinians in Israeli prisons are petty criminals, not in the slightest "political". ALL have been charged and there is a backlog whilst they get to trial. This is the same as ALL countries - except places that dispense with such "nonsense" as trials and with 8,500 out of 3.5 million in prison, Israel has one of the lowest incaration rates in the world - one can come this with the roughly 2 million prisoners the US has - roughly a ratio of 235 US prisoner for each Pal one and 71 US person per Pal one - roughly in relative terms the US looks up 3 for every one Pal.
27. Gestures
zvi ,   Washington, DC, USA   (08.08.08)
You ar so right!!!
28. # 26 setting the record straight
Justice   (08.08.08)
For the sake of accuracy: A large number of bodies kept by Israel were TAKEN TO Israel from Lebanon, the Palestinian Territories etc.. In any case, it is not legitimate to keep bodies as hostage - no matter who does it. Also, the 4 Lebanese prisoners released at the same time as the murderer Kuntar were captured DEEP INSIDE Lebanon - not in Israel and not even on the border but in Lebanese villages. Re the Palestinian detainees in Israel: the 8.500 + are all political-security (the petty criminal are in another additional category); and there ARE at present some 900 administrative detainees who the Israeli authorities have clearly stated they have no intention to charge or bring to trial. Worth checking facts before writing.
29. The liberation of Gilead Shalit.
Robert Bernier   (08.08.08)
Only a complet closing of the borders of the Gaza Strip, no fuel, no electricity, no humanitatian or medical assistance, a total closure, as long as needed, will bring to the liberation of Gilead Shalit. There should be no other option. More over the problem of kidnapped soldiers at : http://xrl.us/em3de
30. to justice
EZ ,   CA   (08.08.08)
ok. let's have justice. why doesn't Gilad Shalit get Red Cross visits? how about a trial? let's set the record straight: how many Israelis or Jews captured in Arab countries were allowed Red Cross visits? how many completed graduate degrees like Kuntar? allowed to marry like Kuntar? please....
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