Arens: Words you can't argue with
Photo: Herzl Yosef
Defense officials debate refusal to release Shalit 'at any price'
Barak tells students soldiers needed to be prepared for worst, sparking positive and negative responses
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".
Former Defense Minister Moshe Arens told Ynet, "Usually I don't express myself as Ehud Barak did, but these are words you can't argue with."
Original Report
Ilana Curiel
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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.
