Hoping for better days

Op-ed: Surprising Israeli gesture of terrorist bodies’ transfer offers some compassion, mercy

Reuters | Published: 07.05.11, 18:34

“We decided to comply with the Palestinian request,” the IDF’s spokesman said Monday, reporting that the prime minister approved the handover of 84 terrorist bodies to the Palestinian Authority. The statement also noted that contacts are being held between the two sides in order to coordinate the manner of transferring the bodies.

The one thing missing in the report was an explanation, even a partial one, as to the reason for Israel’s agreement to go ahead with the move.

After dozens of years where we’ve been accustomed to bargaining over gestures – so and so living terrorists in exchange for so and so Israeli soldiers, so and so Hezbollah fighters in exchange for so and so bodies of Israeli soldiers – there was something very surprising about a report that Israel complied with the Palestinian request, without the next sentence referring to what Israel got in return.

Very surprising, and also refreshing.

It was refreshing despite the speculations that we cannot do without, of course, that this gesture is connected in one way or another to a swap that would secure Gilad Shalit’s release, or that it is part of the Israeli effort to boost Abbas, or that it is an gesture of gratitude for the security cooperation, or that there is a small hint here in favor of the great superpower, and so on.

The State of Israel holds thousands of Palestinian prisoners and hundreds of bodies. The return of 84 terrorist bodies will not undermine Israel’s bargaining abilities if and when the time comes. It also won’t threaten its strength or its survival chances in a Middle East that only understands force.

Yet the exact opposite may be true: That such gesture, on the face of it at least, is not part of the immediate give-and-take policy, and that it is not tainted by the fear that freezes every initiative lest we be perceived as weak again. Perhaps it is a gesture that presents a small, tiny bud of a chance for conduct that is a little different.

This move offers a measure of compassion and a measure of mercy; yes, even if we are dealing with the worst terrorists here, ones who left behind them rivers of blood and an ocean of tears before dying.

Perhaps this move offers at least a hint and a sign of a promise for different, better days.