Opinion
Look her in the eyes
Shimon Shiffer
Published: 24.06.08, 17:47
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
12 Talkbacks for this article
1. Wrong again
Ofer, Haifa ,   Israel   (06.24.08)
The government should keep in mind what is good for the country. Not for 2 families. Don't make the same mistake as in the 2nd Lebanese war whn the government was afraid of casualties and therefore did not protect the civillian population. Also, what about Pollard? He is alive. I wish he would get 1/10 of the attention that these soldiers are getting
2. no longer alive; a painful and regrettable fact
observer   (06.24.08)
and you Shiffer trust the Mossad or can't but follow their instructions?
3. # 1 is right
J K ,   NYC, USA   (06.24.08)
While we can understand the pain of the families, trading away a live murdering scum like Kuntar for bones will only encourage terror and future kidnappings against live Israelis. It wont matter if they are killed because Nasallah will know Israel will trade more than they get in return. I thought the Israelis try NOT to her frieri'm. If they are indeed dead, then like they became soldiers willing to sacrifice all, the sacrifice must be made for the greater good so we dont pay too steep a price for the captives. www.tzomet.net
4. By all means, release Samir Kuntar for 2 dead bodies
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (06.24.08)
Shoot him, then saw him in half.
5.  Israeli govt 's folly
AK   (06.24.08)
As long as Israeli governments continue to release Arab terrorists from prisons for the dead bodies of Israeli soldiers, Arabs have no incentives to keep Israeli prisoners alive. So, in reality, this decision means not only the overturning of the decisions of the Israeli courts, making a mockery out of the law, but also, most importantly it means a death sentence to all Israeli captives. Any Israeli kidnapped or taken prisoner may be tortured, murdered, and traded, in pieces, (as Hezbollah has already done) for Arab terrorists in Israeli jails. Is it the outcome that Israelis want? If those Israeli soldiers are dead, there is nothing to trade, period. My sincere condolences to the soldier’s families, but their loves ones, as soldiers, gave their lives to protect Israel and their comrades at arms and not to be a cause of additional Israeli casualties. Now, those soldiers will be remembered not for their heroism but for becoming an escape means for the vilest Arab terrorist, with the blood of Israelis, including small Israeli children, on his hands. Is that truly is what that soldiers wife wants? That's how she wants her husband remembered?
6. really
iI ,   jerusalem   (06.24.08)
I have no problem with trading two dead of ours for a dead Kuntar
7. It is not Yaalon who is "absurd".
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, DC USA   (06.24.08)
My father used to say, "Your enemy makes you laugh, while your friend makes you cry." Yaalon is telling us what we don't want to hear, but need to. His statement is hardly "absurd". The author's "Look in the eyes of Karnit Goldwasser" is just tugging at our heart strings. There are times to rely on our heads, not our hearts. This is one of them.
8. STALIN WOULDN'T TRADE FOR HIS SON
Michael ,   Philadelphia, US   (06.24.08)
Joseph Stalin's son Jacob, who was artillery officer, was captured by germans in the opening weeks of their invasion into Russia in 1941. When Russians captured the commander of German 6th Army, Fieldmarshall Paulus, following their victory at Stalingrad in early 1943, germans offered Stalin a trade - his son for Paulus. Stalin replied - " I do not trade Fieldmarshalls for Captains". His son later commited suicide in German POW camp. Stalin won the war. There is no right action in this tragic matter. Probably, the one that benefits the country the most should be considered.
9. The question nobody asked!
Larry G. ,   Hamilton, Canada   (06.26.08)
The question is did these 2 soldiers die deliberately in the hands of terrorists? Because knowing the Israelis, if they captured injured terrorists, they would treat and/or operate and even hospitalize the enemy before incarcerating them. First, were Goldwasser and Regev injured or wounded during their abductions? If so, then what was the exact course of events that took place during these past 2 years? It's not enough to get back dead bodies, if the terrorists let these IDF soldiers just die of their wounds then these terrorists are murderers! If these soldiers were unharmed during their abductions, then why are they dead? Obvious they were tortured and/or starved to such an extent that these IDF personnel were deliberately killed and again that's murder! So it's not enough to get 2 dead bodies back, the answers to how these 2 young men died at the hands of terrorists is needed! The Israelis are only obligated to give back dead terrorists! If the terrorists want their live prisoner exchange then fine, at the point of swapping people the Israelis release their prisoner alive in front of his fellow terrorists. Then the Israelis shoot him in the head and proceed with the dead body prisoner exchange!
10. Captive's being declared dead
Marilyn ,   USA   (06.26.08)
If it's not the truth, shouldn't that matter? Wouldn't going against such just create more problems?
11. Larry, it's not going to happen; Kuntar will walk.
AK   (06.26.08)
Israel has set a precedent when they first traded live Arabs for dead israelis. Hezbollah has no reason to keep any israeli prisoner alive; it is enough that they admit publictly that they are dead. If those two soldiers were alive, wouldn't they produce evidence of it? If Kuntar walks, it is only a matter of time before another israeli is kidnapped and murdered to facilitate another extortion.
12. #1 I completely agree with you.
Dara ,   Israel   (06.29.08)
Back to article