Late kidnapped soldier Nachshon Waxman
Palestinians resuming kidnappings?
Following Sunday morning's events in southern Gaza Strip, threat of kidnapping once again in forefront; security forces warn: Kidnapping is terrorist tactic that has never ceased, even though it does not seem as prevalent today as in 1980s, 1990s
Biggest IDF nightmare: the kidnapping of a soldier or civilian causes an immediate reaction by all security forces ready for deployment, both in the military and the police force.
sThis is the dilemma the government faced Sunday, following the kidnapping of an IDF solder during a terror attack on an IDF outpost in Kerem Shalom.
The dread always stems from the worst-case scenario: a kidnapping by terror operatives and the transition of the kidnap victim into a hostage. This type of situation creates a difficult dilemma for the Israeli government – should it give in to terrorist demands to save the hostage's life or should it react with deterrent military force?
Gaza Incident
Hanan Greenberg
In special press conference, IDF chief of staff says Hamas, PA responsible for Palestinian terrorists' combined attack on IDF post near southern Gaza Strip, for kidnapped soldier's fate; officer, soldier killed in attack, several troops wounded
The subject of kidnapping became a hot topic again recently both because of heightened awareness of such situations in the military and because of the attempted kidnap of teenagers Emuna Shachar and Hadas Mann in the West Bank on June 15, which luckily did not end in tragedy.
The two girls saved themselves from being kidnapped at a hitchhiking post at the Rachelim junction, near Ariel, after three Palestinians from Jenin, armed with a loaded pistol and handcuffs, tried to abduct them. The two girls managed to fight off their attackers; Emuna, aged 15, was lightly injured during the fight.
Following the incident, security sources warned that terror operatives were planning to kidnap soldiers and civilians. The most dangerous area in this regard is the West Bank, with Islamic Jihad identified as the most involved terrorist organization.
Kidnappings of soldiers and civilians by terror organizations were a more prevalent occurrence in the 1980s and 1990s. Events such as the kidnapping of the late Nachshon Waxman, whose attempted rescue led to the death of Captain Nir Poraz, intruded upon the national consciousness and, in doing so, solidified the message that Israel would not surrender to the demands of terrorists. Even so, kidnappings or, more accurately, attempted kidnappings, have not ceased in recent years.
Only two weeks ago, Jewish student Benjamin Bright-Fishbein was kidnapped by armed Palestinians. They released a tape to news sources that displayed a youth, wearing a yarmulke and holding a Hebrew University student ID, saying "if prisoners are not released, I will be executed."
Bright-Fishbein was transferred to PA security forces, after which he was released at the Hawara checkpoint.
