I wholly agree with Martin Sherman's opinion concerning the how and why's of releasing Gilad Shalit. Penalties not rewards is the answer. If Israel gives in this time what will the price be next time? This is like the "land for peace deal". And where has it gotten Israel? Terrorists are not political and are just another name for murderers, thieves, criminals and thugs, so let's just throw that name out and call them who they actually are. They need to know that capturing and killing will not be tolerated, period. The State of Israel has been far too long pushed around and should know that the greater civilized community is behind her. Be strong. G-d Bless the State of Israel.

Sure he can write whatever he likes in his oped, however he ignores a big part of the Jewish basis of the IDF getting soldiers back and the government negotiating. We have a long tradition of pidyon shvuyim (ransoming of captives), so long it is a subprayer in the central Jewish prayer, the Shmon'esrei, composed probably over 2500 years ago. Kidnapping has been a big activity in this region since biblical times, and is so interpreted as part of the 10 commandments (no stealing equals stealing people). The Jewish tradition allows for a cutoff --limit--in trade for prisoners so as not to encourage kidnapping. It is notable that during the time of David Ha Melech straight military recapture was done; doubtless this was not done in later times because of the lack of capacity. Now that we have the capacity, it is surely a better option than trading murderers. However, our long tradition of bloodshed only when necessary needs to be honored even by our secular writers.

Bloodshed only when necessary is a noble philosphy, but the Old Testament is full of some rather bloody instances as punishment and lessons. Maybe the time has come to teach Hamas some lessons and to let them know that kidnapping is a sport they can no longer win and which doesn't pay well, anymore.

u dont mention that jewish law clearly states that pid'yon shvuim has a very logical and clear-cut limit. the price IS NEVER discussed as tranding murderers and psycopaths for kidnapped. It was paid in money or "stuff" but not as a "human" swap. In old times ppl were kidnapped for a profit of moneys-not as a political statement. I think that if hamas demanded few millions of $$$ for freeing him-most of the population(including me) wouldnt object. Most of sane-progmatic ppl (like me and Mr.Sherman) strongly object to this swap!

The news out of Israel in recent days was "All Shalit, All The Time" - article after article covering the deal and the family's pain - as if Israel had no other matters of consequence to deal with. The country seemed to have lost all perspective. Thank you, Martin, for reminding us that the country hasn't totally lost its mind, that common sense and wisdom aren't dead.

Finally- some one who sees the reality- why did this take almost 1000 days? The release of one soldier has determined the politics of an entire country for 3 years- all decisions depended on this- instead of DOING something to bring the soldier home- there have been talks and more talks- new talks- broken off, new talks again- Hamas has no intention of releasing this soldier voluntarily- IF he is even alive. Israel has been soft and weak- barking dogs.....? half-hearted actions. It is time to use the 'take it or leave' position- all this waffling is not getting anything done.

I don't know of any other author on this website who interacts with his/her readers and defends the points they present. Thank you for "going beyond the call of duty", so it is said. However, I would like to comment on your comment to my comment (excuse the awkward language here)- international law is not a suicide pact, but it does severely damage a nation's sovereignty and when you have bodies like the ICC engaging in judicial activism, it doesn't take much for a willing world to turn any disparaged nation into a modern-day, pre-WWII Czechoslovakia, all under the guises of international law and "peace in our time". To be sure, international law is not a suicide pact- but to be equally sure, attempting to enforce one's sovereignty while kowtowing to world public opinion is, for all purposes, something very, very close to national suicide.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3688625,00.html The crux of the argument this "human rights organization" puts forth is the following: "Public Committee Against Torture says Israel cannot worsen security prisoners' conditions as leverage versus Hamas since it constitutes 'collective, unjust and illegal punishment'". One can only imagine what the rhetoric will sound like if Israel engages in forcible rescue, retaliatory abductions and "collective penalties". Don't get me wrong, I believe that Israel has the right and the responsibility to take whatever measures necessary to ensure its survival and integrity, just don't expect the world to view things as I do and, whatever you do, don't kowtow to so-called "human rights organizations" that whitewash the actions of Hamas, Fatah and Hezbollah while condemning Israel.

1)there is no Jewish law that specifically limits the amount of monetary compensation 2)pidyon shvuyim is technically the ransoming of captives, no matter how they were captured, whether to gain money, for other reasons such as forced marriage, or as bargaining chips in other ways 2)kidnapping for other than strictly financial reasons occurs throughout Jewish history. I mention the taking of Sarah, kidnapping of Dinah, taking of the Israeli women at Ziklag, including David's two wives...I could go on. None of these acts was done for financial gain but gain of other kinds. The last one mentioned was done by Amalek, which had a special and unbreakable grudge against Israel independent of any other motivation. 3)I have been referring to the concept of pidyon shvuyim in which case the clal is responsible for rescue up to a certain point which is determined by the wisest leaders. I have made my statement quite clear about why rescue was resolved with money in later times. Money is not viable at this time especially since the real motivation of Hamas is to hold fake negotiations and continually raise or change the stakes with no endgame.

Sherman has written a good article on what to do with a shalit captive situation. The problem is olmert would not authorize covert missions, rocket fire as response to gaza rockets, refused to use the gaza operation to gain shalit, refusal to authorize killing of top hamas one by one till shalit released. So sherman, when the PM is an olmert type, pressure him, go after him,. Otherwise, Israel cannot do anything but dichter calling hamas scum. Olmert, dichter, livni with her lebanon resolution, mofaz at transport, ramon with his jerusalem withdrawal offer have been next to useless, useless. Barak was better than peretz but pretty close to useless. Lieberman may be good in scaring israel's enemies.Levelling gaza may be a good idea. You may have destroy gaza to get shalit back.

A VERY good article -- from the first sentence till the last one.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3688625,00.html

There is plenty that is right in this piece, but the recommendation of "collective penalties" is in error. Populations are not to be made to suffer for the actions of the gangsters among them. There is some debate as to whether this still applies if the gangsters are then democratically voted into office. In addition, the definition of "penalties" as compared to "punishment" needs to be determined, there may be some penalties that can fairly be declared non-punitive (closing border crossings, for example, is not expressly a "punishment", a sovereign state has this right and can do this at will).

You say :” hamas' leaders don't care one bit about the welfare of their own people.” In THAT case, the top 200 Hamas leaders (except for Haniyeh and Mashaal) should be targeted -- and their families.

Finally someone with common sense!!! Pity such people don't have influence in this country , ruled by moronic appeasers. Once there was Entebbe, once the people of Israel had dignity, - no negotiations with kidnappers, let alone giving in to them.

Agree 100%!!!

I agree with you 100%. I hope and pray Martin Sherman will establish a political party , or movement,- I am anxious to help in any way possible, and do volunteer work for it.

Absolutely correct! But it takes government with "guts" to act this way, not a bunch of moronic appeasers. "No guts, no glory!"

Mine too.