unpopular but true

Ophir, Thanks for bringing to us a fresh new perspective, about Singaporean model. No doubt your words worth taken into account when the leaders decide. unfortunately, I'm afraid- it is too late. Align the power!

How do you propose to accomplish "deradicalization of Palestinian inmates?" Prefrontal lobotomies?

As long as I know,for Jews life comes before any consideration thus I think such a matter should not even to be discussed:if there is the possibility to bring Gilad to life ,it should be done. Where are rabbis and their halachot by now? They speak about halacha here and halacha there but old,good and tradicional halochot are not heard in this moment.Am I mistaken?

without a doubt,a very difficult situation,but under no circumstances should a swop of that magnitude take place...as a soldier,certain conditions prevail and part of putting your ass on the line for the people of your nation is the chance that a cowardly act as abduction can take place..ask gilad,(and most other israelis i know)and i imagine that he would gladly sacrifice himself for the good of his people.

yes we have an obligaton to save gilad. the issue is what we have to do to get him. it is actually a sin to free murderers. according to the talmud if someone stands idlly by while another one kills it is as if he also murdered. that is the situation here. by releasing murderers we are standing idly by and the blood that they spilt(NOT even the blood they WILL spill again) is on our hands. the sin becomes ours. The end NEVER justifies the means. we all want gilad home but we have to put the ball in their court. They have the power to decide right from wrong. to harm him or not. your intentions are good but lack of insight about truly what is right and wrong brings more death upon us. dont forget ignorance is not an excuse and even though you may say i meant well you are still acountable for your actions.

" if someone stands idlly by while another one kills it is as if he also murdered...." Aren't we standing idlly by for 3 years while Gilad is being killed? We have 2 situations,one concrete and another potencial,and we can act about the 2:about the concrete,as long as I understand,the Talmud has already given us the answer. About the potencial,also it has given the answer,because the potencial has not yet actually happened-the blood has not been spilt (and G-d willing, never will)-and we can prevent it to happen with really correct political and military actions. Of course we can't if we keep repeating the same old wrong patterns, which is listening to goyim desiring to master our lives and not listening to ourselves in our deeper convictions. We have all answers,we don't need to look to other's models,Singapure or what ever.

let him sleep in peace !!

"Captives must not be ransomed for more than their value, in the interests of the public." - Kesubos 52b Rashi explains that "in the interest of the public" (as translated by Soncino) means that the captors should not become accustomed to raising the stakes ("so that the captors... not thereby be encouraged to demand exhorbitant prices fo the ransom of their captive" - Soncino).

The one that enphasizes the captors or the one that emphasizes the life of the Jewish captive? Of course the second option should prevail,because the second ratifies(among other views)what G-d stated first:be fruitfull. One has to procriate in order his fruits to live and not to die.

A Jew can only fulfill the destiny meant for him while free. Keeping Gilad prisioner is a Hilul Hashem. The first utterance of G-d was to be Light. Light has to prevail over darkness by any price.

Would you hold the same discours if it was YOUR son ? Listen , i can't say what is wrong . freeing would be murderers or having Gilat Shalit in those hamas hands for many more years . Both are wrong . I don't envy those who have to decide it .

but make it clear to those bastards...if he does not return alive and whole...they will be hunted down one by one. there is no easy answer...G-d bless Shalit.

couple things. Reuven- I would hope that if it was my son that as painful as it may be I would rise to the test and make the right choice my not giving in to murderes and would hope that I raised my son with the same moral value that his life isnt worth more than anothers. Keren- I think giving in to these demands and having two parents that are so pained(which is more than understandable) and a son whom is suffering more than I could imagine give in as well, is the real chilul hashem. Just because something hurts does it obsolve us of staying the course? i am not judging, i am only hoping that if I where put to this test I would do exactly the opposite of what the Shalit family is doing.

Your Talmudic quote is not applicable. Mr. Shalit has not been murdered for three years and we are not standing idly by. He is a captive, and his life is endanger, and we have every responsibility for saving him. But, not at any price. That is what my quote (#10) comes and teaches, so I understand.

I will agree to this "de-radicalization" program only if *I* am selected as the Director of the program, and free to use whatever methods I feel are most effective. On a related note, can someone suggest a good supplier of 7.62x39 "de-radicalization" supplies?

So what is Gilad's price?

should be released. We do not need them in our custody. It serves no purpose whatsoever. If there is confrontation with a terrorist he should be eliminated.

They are costly bums. When caught,they should be eliminated not imprisioned. (Let's consult Talmud on how to deal with these poisons)

either hamas gets taken hostage by israel and we trade for Gilad. OR we go in and pound the living turkey out of Hamas, such that they will think twice about the productivity of kidnapping Jews.

in that situation. He can not be released in exchange for an unrepentant someone who has lived a life of murderous terrorism and will do it again. The victims of this newly released terrorist will thank confused people like you for releasing their murderers. AND the next Israeli kidnapped will have you to thank as well for perpetuating this 1 for 1000 terrorist deal. Gilad should be freed by kidnapping hamas terror leaders and swapping or pounding them into submission so they never want to kidnap.

ur comments r arrogant devoid of compassion for Gilad Shalit and his family: am israel. while i have mixed feelings on this issue the bottom line is that this child MUST be brought home by what ever means available. i wish israel would bomb the hell out of those bastards and not give a damn about world opinion,,,but sadly she will not at this time. i wish israel would go after their leadership and quietly assainate them until Gilad is released, but sadly she is not. regardless to all of that Shalit must be brought home and all israeli boys and girls must know israel will bring them home... G-d bless Gilad and G-d bless Israel.

A leader needs to know how to say no. Benjamin Netanyahu - say no to release of terrorists

Spoken as a true American Jew (or "friendly" Christian) that is willing to fight to the last Israeli soldier for her or his dreams! If you feel so strongly about it, why don't you offer to take Shalit's place in capture hell?

Hopefully Israel will show to these beings of devil that it does not pay kidnapping none of us-G-d forbid- and will give them a real lesson once and for all and will not stop this lesson untill they are gone forever. The Chosen of Him can do it as no other people in this earth can,with the best army of the world that Israel is. But Israel must do it with their souls,rationally, and never impulsively.Only this way it will be effective. Our capability has no comparation with of these sons of darkness,we just need to apply it.

Ophir is right. Israel should release at most VERY few Palestinian prisoners for one Israeli. Certainly not 1000 terorists.

There might be a special place in the Afterworld if you do!