Opinion
There’s no other deal
Yair Lapid
Published: 30.06.08, 08:42
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30 Talkbacks for this article
1. Nobody is pleased? Are you kidding?
Nora ,   Tel Aviv   (06.30.08)
Hizbullah is pleased. Hamas will be pleased. Returned`s ,dead/alive, families will be pleased. Nasrallah is pleased, Kuntar is pleased, Bargouti will be pleased. Olmedrt will be pleased. Kadima will be pleased. And last but not least, YOU will be pleased.
2. THE USUAL SUPERFICIAL NONSENSE BY YAIR LAPID
SERGIO ,   ISRAEL   (06.30.08)
3. Braindead ......
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (06.30.08)
We made mistakes in the past, so let's keep making the same mistakes all over again. What a bunch of rubbish. How stupid do we have to be - even beginning negotiations without proof that the hostages ae alive? Are we retarded? Evidently, we are. And, if the hostages are dead, which seems to be the case, why release anyone? To get back dead bodies? If, as it seems, the two soldiers are returned dead, we should execute our prisoners on the spot, beginning with that monster Kuntar. That's the right message to send. But, we won't do a thing - we will continue to be the biggest losers on the face of the earth, a bunch of suckers with no backbone or self-respect. Israel is becoming like a crap reality show on TV with politicians & journalists competing for the Stupidity Award.
4. Yair's right - Jewish life is invaluable
Alan Abbey ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (06.30.08)
Yair is right - as usual. This was necessary, and there are no winners.
5. there is a much better deal
chana ,   beit shemesh, israel   (06.30.08)
We can give them back dead bodies, including of kuntar and friends. They can learn that we can be just as tough, no, TOUGHER than they are. For evey day that no one returns Zach Baumel, Tzvi Feldman and Yehuda Katz , we pop off three of their guys. And don't claim there is no connection between the terrorist groups!! Arafat himself brought us their diskiot 15 years ago, remember???). Same for Guy Hever, Ron Arad and Ze'ev Rotshik. WE also ahve ot stop takgn prissoners. The death penaltywas to late for Eichmann, at that point he wasn't going to send another 6,000,000 Jews to the gas chambers But Kuntar and co. are stil dangerous - only the death penalty for them, - swift , exact justice - will save the lives of their future victims.
6. jewish LIFE might be invaluable, but dead bodies????
chana ,   beit shemesh , israe   (06.30.08)
The maharam m'rottenberg set a precendent , denying his OWN release when the deal would only encourage more kidnappings. One could consider arguing with him and agreeing with you for jewish LIVES. But here we are talking about releasing murderers, encouraging terrorism, etc, for dead bodies. Sorry, ther eis no logic in what youand lapid are saying. Kuntar wil nto feel deep in his heart that he lost. He wil feel victory and encouragement to continue. Released terrorists have a proven track record for repeat offences.
7. I Disagree. This does set a precedent.
Thomas   (06.30.08)
Hizbollah knows they don't have to keep Israeli prisoners alive in order to exchange for their living ones. Hamas knows this too and that could endanger the life of Shalit and any future captives. Ask the Goldwassers and the Regev families if they care because the next husband/son/brother killed in captivity will be their fault. And Lapid let's not pretend that this deal was made to ease the suffering of the two families. Olmert is doing anything he can to evade the four or five criminal inquiries he's facing.
8. Reply to Terry from Eilat
Dennis Greenstein ,   New jersey USA   (06.30.08)
Terry: I typically agree with your viewpoints, including your post #3 above. If you feel this way, how can you go on living there? I started to give up in 1983/4, with the Bus#300 affair, when the killing of two murdering terrorists almost brought about the collapse of the Shamir Govt, and caused other heads to roll. I saw that things were ehading in the wrong direction, and now Im back here in the USA, where , ironically, if a guard sneers at one of our guests at Guantanimo, he himself can wind up in jail.... I'd ensure that Kuntar would receive an up to date tetanus shot, with some deadly toxin. If the two soldiers are alive, we provide the antidote. if we get their bodies in a pine box, we let him suffer a terrible death.
9. No Better Deal? By Ariel Ben Yohanan
Ariel Ben Yohanan ,   Kfar Tapuah, Efraim   (06.30.08)
No Better Deal? By Ariel Ben Yohanan - Yair Lapid: "There’s no other deal" - Ariel Ben Yohanan: Yes, there is - or better, there was: we could chose and win the 2nd Lebanon War, destroy hezb'allah and bring our boys home dead, or maybe alive at that time. But no, you leftist losers have decided that it is better to appease the goyim, lose the war and the boys with it. The young soldiers and the reservists died for nothing in that conflict. For nothing! - Yair Lapid: "Those who try to hint that they would do it better are lying" - Ariel Ben Yohanan: You are lying Yair Lapid because you insinuate that this country, Israel, can have no better leaders than the ones you are paid to serve with your naked propaganda pieces. You are insulting ordinary intellect. The fact Yair Lapid is that every Jew knows that there is a halacha (Jewish Law) on this that forbids to pay too much ransom. Your arguing that giving a living Kuntar for two bodies is not an honest argument on your part and hundreds of Jews and Israelis will G-d forbid pay the price for it tomorrow and in the coming years. G-d save the skin of poor Shalit, apparently still alive. Your reasoning, Yair Lapid is immoral because it favors the dead against the living and we are commanded to chose life. We urgently need a leadership that not only knows Torah but applies Torah. This includes leaving you alone in your corrupt and secularist Knesset and working for Torah institutions: expert judges, the Sanhedrin and a king. Your secularism Yair Lapid is leading the Jewish people to die. If we are to survive, we have to do away with you.
10. "There’s no other deal"? -Yes, there's NO DEAL!
Millie ,   Israel   (06.30.08)
Lapid and other leftist media morons never get the message. That's how the Oslo fiasco came into being. They never seems to learn from the consequences. When you see it won't work in the nation's best interests, don't continue to push for it. That's the difference between a patriot and a parrot.
11. hostages
sas ,   israel   (06.30.08)
NOTHING should have ben paid for to get Elhanan Tannenbaum back. He is worthless and was not sent out to fight for the country. He should have been left there to melt./suffer/die.....About Ron Arad - we have to "thank" Yitzhak Rabin for his silly actions.
12. Yair, This is stupid stuff
Sidney ,   USA   (06.30.08)
AP is reporting that Hamas is raising the price for Shalit because of this deal. Since when did Jews become worshippers of bodies? Are these dead bodies worth more than the lives of Israelis which will be lost as the result of the deal?
13. We didn't trade Kuntar for lives ...
we didn't trade Kun ,   Tel Aviv, London, LA   (06.30.08)
"We traded life for life; the life of Samir Kuntar for the lives of the Goldwasser and Regev families". Or is Yair suggesting that we saved the lives of the families - what utter drivel?! Was this article written before it was announced that Goldwasser and Regev are dead? We got bodies for live people and it was dumb, very dumb but don't just listen to me but to Mossad and Shin Beit. Every Israeli and perhaps ever Jew has now become a prime target and we have motivated Hamas, Hezbullah and other groups. Mike
14. #8 Dennis Greenstein, USA.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (06.30.08)
I ask myself that question every day. Why do I stay here? Part of the answer is that I really just got here - and I have no desire to return home either. Had I known the reality of Israeli politics & not the distorted picture given in the international media, perhaps I would have gone somewhere else. I just couldn't imagine that Israel could be so self-destructive. But, as you say yourself, even in the US, appeasement is the order of the day, Europe being much worse. So, for the moment, I'm here ....
15. In 1985 my brothers killers were released for three
Avrum Hacohen   (06.30.08)
dead bodies... We all know the rest of the story. In 1987 the first intifada started and in 2000 the 2nd which is still going on, Israel to me is a cemetary where I go to visit my brothers grave from time to time. I look at Israelis as a beaten people who are envious of anyone and everyone. On several occasions when I went to visit my brothers gravesite, I have been peppered by my "relatives" and total strangers with questions concerning Btuach Leumi Survival Benefits and my own financial situation. Invariably I am hit upon for money because someone wanted to buy something or someone wanted to travel someplace. I got the feeling they wanted to see if I'm, what you call a sucker. I am indeed a sucker, for my late brother ended up being a korban for an ungrateful people. I dont know what it is but what I see is a people who are what we call here moochers and dovar acherim. Today I have totally disengaged from Israelis. The government is a reflection of the people as much as you would like to pretend otherwise. I will mourn for my brother till the end of my days. The great tradgedy is that many many more will suffer that which I and my parents have suffered over the past 28 years. Quite frankly I am quite disgusted how the same mistakes made 23 years ago are being repeated today with the result that more death and destruction will be visited upon the Jews of israel. I wish you all luck. Till then I will look at you from afar and watch how you seem to have chosen suicide over life. You have become your own enemy.
16. same B.S...no suffering but jewish suffering..
Ryan   (06.30.08)
Yair says "we value life and they value death" he neglected a little detail....we value "jewish" life, not any other life...Every comentary here to a complete indifference to the other side's multiplied suffering....yet your selfishness as ppl blinds you to even see it...as anything but a relaxing site of vengence...hence no peace.
17. Exchange
Israeli mother ,   Israel   (06.30.08)
There is no way to know for sure in a case like this if the boys are alive or dead. We should be finding out soon. Halavie that we should have all our missing soldiers returned alive. Just think if it were your son who was captured. What would you do?
18. Terry,14#, don't lose your Zionist zeal!
Judah ,   Golan Heights,ISRAEL   (06.30.08)
I am disgusted with our politicians as much as you are. Yet its important to not lose track of the whole picture. For the first time in 2,000 years the Jewish people have a country of their own. It was a mere 64 years ago when the Nazis were killing 15,000 Hungarian Jews a day and the world did not care. Even the Canadian government would not allow Jewish refugees in and said "None is too many". Terry, maybe you need to take a break from all of thse internet sites and take a nice stroll on the boardwalk in Eilat and then a swim in the refreshing Red Sea. Israel is the best country in the world for a Jewish person to live, even with our lousy government.
19. yair- you dont know didly squat
Daniel ,   israel   (06.30.08)
get off the media!!! u dont know anything!!!
20. # 16
(06.30.08)
There's a reason most Americans don't sympathize with Japanese casualties during WW2. That reason being they started it. If the Lebanese suffer in a war they began why should that bother us?
21. You talk with understanding.
Adi ,   NYC   (06.30.08)
What you do not comprehend is that you are dealing with lunatics, with revolutionaries, and madman and true believers in the Koran a most intolerable document, and yet you like Chamberlin are making deals and hoping that things will remain the same and could luck out, read Aaron Applefeld, the same time the Arabs arm and arm, at every higher levels of capabilities, Deals for dead bodies, sound like no deal to me, when a country allows itself to be held hostage by a red herring it has lost its way. When you want to catch a fox you must think like a fox, I think the Arabs especially Hizbullah have learned this lesson, Israelis are too arrogant remember the Yom Kippur War, unprepared, overwhelmed and five thousand dead, many thousands wounded, look into the eyes of someone whose face was blown off and think how you could have killed the enemy instead of being killed.
22. Bravo! Yet again you hit the nail on the head
Sheila ,   Jerusalem Israel   (06.30.08)
We had no choice. The Prime Minister and the whole country was in a situation where we would be damned if we did and damned if we didn't. We do not leave our boys b'shevi!
23. may you have not only this choice
samia ,   jerusalem   (07.01.08)
before the second lebanon war .israil had this choice and the war choice .i think israil did the worst choice .but now returned to the other choice with its suffering from the war .but i think nasralla or the enemy had one choice with suffering or without suffering they keep their choice .and they bear the results of the israili choice at the first time but not at this time
24. No winners, but in a way we are
Don ,   USA   (07.01.08)
Yair -- This is a very good column. The point that no one is the winner is evident in the Talkback. Your critics claim that not going ahead with the deal would somehow be a way to defeat Hezbollah. It is certainly not the case no matter how much we wish it would be. Sometimes we need our lives, as Israelis and Jews, engaged but not defined by our enemies. We need to do what is right for us. I agree that the Regev and Goldwasser families are more important than Kuntar's fans. I agree that the Hezbollah dead in the war are also part of the price Hezbollah is paying for this trade. I agree with the Right, and frankly much of the Left, that the battle with the Palestinians and many Arabs is not going to be over soon. But we can't put our lives on hold until then. We have hardships but we must live our lives and be true to ourselves, while keeping our feet firmly on the ground. This deal affirms exactly that,
25. Israel's negotating strategy
David ,   New York   (07.01.08)
Ever since I was a teenager I had always contemplated moving to Israel. However, over the past decade I realized that Israel of today is not the Israel of 1967. The Israel of today negotiates with and surrenders to terrorists. The Israel of today is afraid to win wars, afraid to confront her genocidal enemies with the kind of force necessary to subdue them at the expense of her citizens lives. The Olmert-Livni-Barak trio now agree to release a Nazi like killer of Jewish children in exchange for what? Today's Israel is just a shell of what is once was.
26. Here, here No. 5!
Jules ,   Tel Aviv   (07.01.08)
27. future israeli prisoners
sam ,   tlv   (07.01.08)
will be killed - no value in keeping them alive if israel pays back withlive terrorists are the soldiers going to risk their lives after this show of weakness i doubt the effect pf this surrender deal will cost hundred times lives than that of shalit and his selfish family and stupid press
28. Swap
Leah ,   Israel   (07.01.08)
Swap brain-dead leaders for soldiers. Do not swap live terrorists for dead soldiers it will encourage terrorists to kill hostages.
29. Lapid is wrong: There are winners and loosers
daniel   (07.02.08)
We lost, they won
30. There Is At Least One Loser: Yair Lapid
Dan Friedman ,   NYC, NY   (07.05.08)
Puhthetic
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