Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu
Photo: Avihu Shapira
Rabbi Eliyahu negates prisoner swap
'Captives' blood no more valuable than that of future victims,' writes rabbi of possible Shalit deal
A prominent Religious-Zionist rabbi has added his voice to those objecting to a prisoner swap deal with Hamas in exchange for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.
In an article distributed over the weekend throughout a number of synagogues, Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu writes: "Even if they were to release just 100 terrorist murderers, it would be stupid and fall under strict prohibition. The blood of captives is no more valuable than that of victims of whose names we are not yet aware."
Protest Tent
Ronen Medzini
Family members, friends hold ceremony in Jerusalem protest tent; Aviva and Noam Shalit, parents of kidnapped soldier, to leave tent Saturday morning, but younger members of Campaign for Gilad Shalit intend to stay, continue sleeping in tent
The article, published in the 'Rosh Yehudi' (Jewish Head) newsletter, commends the government for refusing to capitulate to Hamas' demands.
"According to the Shin Bet, 60% of those released attempt to murder again," Eliyahu writes. "If just a small number of these succeed in carrying out their evil schemes, as occurred this week in the Jordan Valley, we will have lost more than we gained."
The rabbi adds, "Every time I see someone supporting the campaign to 'release Gilad Shalit at any price' I want to get out of the car and tell him, 'You know, the responsibility rests with you too'.
"I wonder if those same people would come to the funerals of those killed following this dangerous deal. It will end in murder. In the end, every citizens' opinion accumulates to public opinion that causes ministers to make decisions that are sometimes wrong and may cause a lot of bloodshed."
Rabbi Eliyahu also criticizes the prisoner swap deal with Hizbullah. "The ministers that voted in favor of releasing terrorists in a deal with Hizbullah in exchange for body parts raised the price for Gilad's release," he writes.
"I don't envy the afterlives of the ministers who voted in favor of the release because of media pressure. This is not politics, it's life."
In an attempt to offer an alternative, the rabbi writes: "The Israeli government must threaten Hamas in the most painful ways available. Neither electricity or water, fuel nor air, food nor construction materials until Shalit is released."
Putting to rest the moral qualms involved in his recommended form of action Eliyahu adds, "We have no problem with collective punishment. This is the way of war and if that's what our enemies understand, that's how we must act until Shalit is released."
