A number of defense officials commented on a speech made by Defense Minister Ehud Barak Tuesday, during which he told high school students Israel would not release kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, or any soldier who fell into enemy hands, "at any price".
| Original Report |
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| Barak: Shalit's release – not at any price / Ilana Curiel |
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Defense minister tells students in south, 'State can't guarantee that you won't be taken captive after you enlist in IDF; this isn't Western Europe'; Netanyahu: We'll bring Gilad home as soon as possible |
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Arens added, "Whoever goes to the army risks being hurt, killed, or possibly captured. We hope this doesn't happen to anybody, but it is part of the essence of an army."
According to the former deputy head of the Mossad, Amiram Levine, the defense minister would have been better off keeping silent. However he agreed with Barak's message.
"The IDF is not an insurance agency. We live in an area that's still at war, so what Barak called 'whining' is actually behaving in a weak manner that won't bring results," Levine said. "The slogan 'at any price' is empty of meaning. When you say that, you mean a high price."
But some voiced opposing opinions. Former head of the Shin Bet, Ami Ayalon, said the defense minister should not have expressed himself as he did as it "raised doubts amongst youngsters about to enlist".
"People go to war out of a feeling of faith in the things they are fighting for, their commanders, and the society that sent them to fight, kill, and be killed," he said.
Ayalon added that the public debate was not clear on what "any price" meant. He said soldiers should not be put at risk to carry out a military operation for a kidnapped soldier's release.
"But if the debate is about prisoners or negotiations about prisoners with blood on their hands, I think the expectation that Israel bring Gliad home in exchange for their release is more than legitimate," he said.
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