Hanoch Daum
Photo: Rafi Deloya
Gilad Shalit. Eagerly awaiting his return
Reproduction photo: Hagai Aharon
Release Jewish terrorists too
If Arab terrorists are to be released in Shalit deal, Jewish terrorists should also be freed
We need to say it explicitly: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
must finish his term in office with abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit back
home. There is no other choice.
Should Olmert fail to do it now, at the end of his term, when he is not facing political pressures and does not need to curry favor with anyone, Shalit will continue to rot in Gaza for many years to come.
The concessions that Olmert will agree to make at the end of his term will not be accepted by Benjamin Netanyahu at the beginning of his term in office. He will start the maturation process from square one, and Gilad will lose precious time that may cost him his life.
Olmert needs to end this saga, and the way to do it is simple: Accept Hamas’ demands. It will hurt, it will prompt cries of joy in Gaza, but this is what Israel needs to do.
A fairer equation
At the beginning of the week, National Union activists gathered and declared that they will give their lives in order to avert the Shalit deal. There was something quite disturbing and problematic with this declaration.One is allowed to object to the Shalit deal, yet when it comes to such sensitive issue one should not say that he is willing to give his life to prevent it. In order to be sensitive to the Shalit family, one must object in a very minor tone, while emphasizing the pain and lack of any other option.
In any case, I think there is a way to make the National Union back a swap for Shalit: By releasing Jewish terrorists. There is no genuine moral reason not to do it.
In a perfect world, murderers need to stay in prison, yet if we see Palestinian mass murderers being released around here, the way to legitimize the deal and make it fairer for Israel would be to release Jewish terrorists from jail.
This is certainly not a romantic situation, but perhaps it shall create a fairer equation.
