Opinion  Nahum Barnea
There is no other way
Nahum Barnea
Published: 27.06.10, 10:07
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23 Talkbacks for this article
1. Hate to say this;
(06.27.10)
in this stalemate, Shalit will have to be sacrificed for the greater good of Israel. The enemies must know the high prices they will pay; i.e. exterminate all their known, hardline leaders. Please bring back the tough actions of the past.
2. The mind-set of a loser.
Terry ,   Eilat - Israel   (06.27.10)
Mr Barnea, in common with most of our political elite, both on the Right & Left (not the far-left lunatics), can only see lose-lose situations. Hamas believes it has manouvered us into a win-win situation & our collection of losers accepts to play their game. From day one, Israel was bound to lose in this affair. There is more at play here than the sad situation of a kidnapped soldier. In blunt terms, an adversary must not be allowed to win under any circumstances. We must deny them ANY victory even if the cost is high. This goes double when the enemy is a bunch of genocidal Islamic thugs. From day one, we should have reacted in a completely disproportionate manner. Gaza should have been shut down completely, nothing in, nothing out. We should have begun targeted assassinations of Hamas leaders. We should have disconnected them from our electricity grid. It would have helped if our irresponsible media didn't make a circus of this affair. And, of course, it would have been helpful if the Shalits had kept a low profile & not allowed themselves to be manipulated by Hamas. It's still not too late. Maybe the harsh measures I advocate will not save Shalit. Maybe they will. But, in any case, Hamas cannot be allowed to win. Our demand is that Shalit must be released unharmed UNCONDITIONALLY or there will be serious & constantly escalating consequences. When dealing with scum like Hamas, beating them is the only option regardless of cost.
3. YOU ARE WRONG WRONG AND WRONG !!!.
Arn. ,   SWEDEN.   (06.27.10)
the Israeli government only has two options left. The first one is to give up on Gilad Shalit for all intents and purposes. The second one is to complete the deal with Hamas and sustain the full price, in terms of future terror acts and damage to our deterrent power. Both options are terribly difficult. It is no wonder that the current government, just like the previous one, refuses to make a choice. THERE IS A THIRD OPTION !!!. - AN OPEN PUBLIC DEMAND ON HAMAS - RELEASE GILAD SHALIT SAFE AND SOUND, OR ISRAEL WILL COME FOR GILAD, AND KILL ALL MEMBERS OF HAMAS, AND IF GILAD IS FOUND DEAD OR NOT AT ALL, ALL MEMBERS OF HAMAS IN ISRAELI PRISONS,' WITH BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS, WILL BE EXECUTED. AND DONT YOU GIVE A SHIT FOR THE WORLD OPINION. Arn.
4. Tell me...Is Hamas just going to kill Shalit?What will we do
Alan ,   SA   (06.27.10)
IF (G-d forbid), they do? They are a prisoner of Shalit kidnap as much as Israel is! I dont see him as a Ron Arad. It would have been correct if #1 signed that post.Thats the problem.Some people are too shy to say what they really think
5. Victory over whom?!
Salma ,   Palestine   (06.27.10)
In the very recent past, in return for two soldiers' bodies, "Israel" handed over five Lebanese prisoners, including Samir Kuntar, who was also considered as a terrorist ,also handed over the bodies of 199 Palestinian and Lebanese fighters It's All In God's Hands so what the" Israeli" government waiting for?! The price may be less, for Shalit may be ......! Very true, there is no other way
6. There's a 3rd way: Play by their rules and squeeze 'em tight
Brian Cohen ,   Judean Peoples Front   (06.27.10)
Baloney! Take the offensive! Cut off all access to all Hamas prisoners in Israeli jails. No contact at all: no lawyers, no Red Cross, no family, no letters, no phone calls. And then move them all around the country so Palestinians really don't know where they are. Total complete isolation. If that means 24/7 in a cell, then so be it. Give 'em medical help if they're desperate, but otherwise nada aside from 2 meals/day and a bucket to piss and crap in. Let the world know that if the international community tolerates Hamas violating international law, then they either make Hamas abide by the law and allow the Red Cross to visit Shalit regularly, or their prisoners get the same treatment. And make regular announcements to the families of the Hamas prisoners that if they want to hear from their "loved ones" again, the address is Hamas or the UN, not Israel. We will cover the Hamas prisoners in darkness, just like they're doing to Gilad Shalit. If our government had gonads, they would have done this two or three years ago already. Don't declare "victory" over nothing! Fight the war and bring it to the enemy - make their families suffer the indignity of not knowing. And, of course, leave those hundreds of convicted Hamas mass murderers in jail.
7. TERRY IS COMPLETLY RIGHT !
Daniela   (06.27.10)
I think that Israel has been too good with Gaza until now. Gaza should be completly closed and IDF should have begun target assasinations of the hamas leader since the end of Cast lead. If we do it now we go back 10 years instaed of moving forward but unfortunatelly there is no other choice.
8. The next time.
Harvey ,   London   (06.27.10)
If Israel backs down and releases thousands of assassins and their accomplices, there is a racing certainty that most will return to acts of terrorism. How does one explain to a grieving relative that the killer had blood on his hands from a previous atrocity and was subsequently released from jail.Considering the numbers involved this is a likely consequence of such an exchange . Furthermore Hamas will be emboldened to effect further captures in order to repeat the process . There is no third way . It is a straight decision . The fact that one hair of Shalits head is worth more then the collective lives of every cut throat held by Israel does not lessen the potential fatal consequences of an exchange. The time has come for Israel to cut the umbilical cord from this heinous chimera. Put the UN on an 18 month notice that Israels borders will be permanently sealed to all further delivery of goods ,medicines, electricity ,gas fuel etc. Let the Egyptians take care of their bretheren . The fact that Israel is expected to provide sustenance to an entity sworn to its destruction is beyond belief.
9. there is no other way
moron ,   galut   (06.27.10)
round up the usual suspects--all the arabs israel has released and keep rounding up until they exchange schalit for them--he is a prisoner of war not a victim of 'abduction'--the other way is to finish cast lead
10. You play the Hamas game, and you open the...................
Cameron ,   USA   (06.27.10)
floodgates to unending BS. Play it smart & begin liquidating leadership down in Gaza..................you'll get real change and movement on Shalit fast.
11. More and more Israelis know better
Golan ,   Modiin   (06.27.10)
I keep asking (mostly the young and women) "What would you NOT give to free the solider Schalit." I think its the first time they understand that their position just might be extremists and without forethought. Usually the answer is "if he was your son or brother..." To which I answer "then I would protest the government ending the war in 2006 without bringing him back." Yes the government is doing everything feasible to bring him back without sacrificing the future kidnapped soldiers.
12. and thats the problem.
Eddie ,   Dublin   (06.27.10)
As usual , the article ends without you expressing an opinion on what should be done. Spineless journalism.
13. There is no other way
sam ,   colorado   (06.27.10)
The Israel's deterrent force did not succeed to find the his captivity whereabouts unknown nor with force was able to return to his home so there is no other way The time has come to make the israeli Government a decision on Gilad Shalit and sustain the full price and must accept the demands and close a deal
14. There's another way. Give them what they want.
Allan ,   Ft. Lauderdale   (06.27.10)
Once Gilad is back safe and sound begin the targeted hits again. First and foremost take out Haniye, Zahar and Jabari. Work your way down from there until there are no snake heads left. In the end this is the only logical option. Israel lives in a tough neighborhood. Playing by the rules only signals weakness to the terrorists. Turn the tables and give them a taste of their own medicine.
15. If
(06.27.10)
If previous governments hadn't released convicted terrorists, Shalit would not have been kidnapped. if the government releases the terrorists, more soldiers will be kidnapped.
16. what to do
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (06.27.10)
Hamas' purpose is to exterminate every last Jew as written in their charter. They hold Shalit to cause discord in Israel and make Israel look weak so they gain power and popularity. After Barak's bungling of Cast Lead and the pro-Hamas Goldstone report, Israel has only one way to free Shalit, assuming he is alive. Israel must start annexing territory and building Jewish homes until Shalit is released. When the Arabs see that they are losing land, Shalit will be released. As long as Israel refuses to annex territory, Shalit is doomed.
17. Israel is doing very well...
Jonathan   (06.27.10)
As long and this march's focus should be on the Hamas, and to bring more global attention to their behaviour, it is helpful. However, the extreme left that is trying to put pressure under the government to surrender to the Hamas demands, is completely wrong. Hamas is breaking. The truth and it's nature is getting out. Despite all the lies - the truth is winning. The one blame, to be fair, is on the UN, that saw this and did not stop the kidnappers. But that's on a different note.
18. Only two options?
sabashimon ,   Jerusalem   (06.27.10)
There is a third option! Hermetically seal the border.....no "humanitarian" truckloads, no electricity, and no fuel. Then tell Hamas that the minute Gilad comes home, all will be restored, but not a second sooner.
19. #7 - That has already been done and failed
Doug ,   Rochester, USA   (06.27.10)
Where have you been? Gaza has been sealed for more than 3 years. Israel has targeted assasinating Hamas for years. If you want your soldier back, simply go back to your side of the green line, quit controlling Gaza's borders, stop the illegal blockade, stop controlling Gaza air space, shooting at anyone within the IDF-declared exclusion zone on the Gaza side of the border, and stop dropping bombs and killing innocent civilians. And get the hell out of the illegally occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem while you are at it!
20. What is wrong with the first option?
Sidney ,   USA   (06.28.10)
If Israel states it is policy that they will give nothing for Shalit, what is Hamas's option. If they kill or torture him, they lose the propaganda battle. Otherwise they have a worthless nuisance who at some time in the future, when nobody will be paying attention, will be rescued.
21. let them feel it
yoheved ,   north miami beach, f   (06.29.10)
Hamas is truly a bitter, dangerous enemy... one who only knows how to play dirty .... like demanding hundreds of Palestinian terrorists in exchange for one Israeli soldier?... i don't even know what their specific demands are now .... but even a hundred to one is bizarre .... we can't keep returning kindness for this evil ..... Israel needs to call the shots first ..... like return Shalit in good health immediately or we are throwing all the Arabs out of Israel and into Gaza.... period .... give them a time frame ... like two weeks …. Let Hamas suffer for this... Israel has lots of soldiers, but they have forgotten how to fight ….Let the fact that Shalit has not been returned yet make them suffer …. evict all of the Arabs in Israel and send them packing to Gaza …. cram an additional million-plus Arabs into Gaza within the next few weeks.. … that should do it…Let them really feel it...
22. No Doug, Terry's options have not
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (06.29.10)
been enforced by our government. He is absolutely right. And, incidentally, 177 Israelis murdered by released Muslim terrorists from Israeli prisons. You can look it up: Google "israel+terrorism" and go to "lindaslog". All photographs of the dead are shown as well.
23. to 1 i think both
(06.29.10)
options will not serve in solving gilad or any problem than release gilad as if they mahe the exchange they will add more problemed to the security and more force they will not get back and add more problem to israil face infront of the world .. i think gilad must be return home in a wide solution with hamas directly .israil must not relay to w.b. rulers to help they want to govern again in gaza do not aware of dhalit nore the security of israil ... so israil may agree with hudnah fore a limited time with releasing prisoners first the elderly step by step then the youhgers .. with limitation of weapones only to enter gaza by noticing of both israil and hamass men only food and nedded properties fore the civilians and it must be through israil doors .. i think israil must depends on its people not international and share the palastinians from the strip .. i think hamass need the civilian comfort becouse they are their families .. trust that peace isa better than war but sure it needs to set and negotiate
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