The day after: Israel reacts http://blogs.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/the-day-after-israel-reacts/ The day after Israel’s prisoner swap deal with Hezbollah, there was pain and anger in the Jewish state. Ari Shavit in Ha’aretz: Here are the results of Israel’s war against Hezbollah so far. Hezbollah is bringing home a living murderer, and Israel is bringing home two dead soldiers - over whose capture it sacrificed 160 other soldiers and civilians. Hezbollah celebrates a symbolic victory, and Israel is in ideological crisis. Hezbollah has won almost complete political control over Lebanon, and Israel wallows in irrevocable political chaos. Hezbollah is armed with 40,000 rockets threatening most of Israel’s territory, while Israel has no response. Hezbollah increases its firepower four or five times, and Israel remains feebly silent. You can read on, but it doesn’t get any less depressing. Shlomo Avineri in Ha’aretz wrote, “It is clear that there are a few general principles that apply to these types of negotiations, and that Israel did not observe them.” The government made a grave mistake when it allowed itself to follow public opinion, which treated the abducted soldiers like little Jewish boys kidnapped by Cossacks rather than soldiers in the army of the Jewish state. The government must tell the public and the families with total conviction that it will do everything in its power to free the soldiers within the boundaries of Israel’s overall interests - but not “everything.” Just as the government has the right to send soldiers into battle, and perhaps to their deaths, so too does it have the right to view the abductees’ fate in the framework of the state’s broader strategic interests. A Jerusalem Post editorial focused on the contrasting images yesterday from the two sides, Israel and Lebanon: Hizbullah’s greatest loss, perhaps, has been its standing in the eyes of principled people everywhere, who can now see the difference between a political culture that valorizes brutality and celebrates a killer as its national conscience, and one that manages a quiet dignity even in the most trying of times. Ynet’s Uri Orbach writes an open letter to the Lebanese people: It has been 30 years yet you still cannot distinguish between a national hero and a-child killer. For you, it’s enough that someone killed a Jew, even if it happens to be a young girl from Nahariya, in order for you to welcome him with great honor… With every proud display and rally for your heroes, you are being taken over the by Hizbullah gang, headed by the cannibal of bodies, Sheikh Nasrallah. The fire coming out of this bramble has been eating up Lebanon’s cedars for years now. Nasrallah is a man who reveals his true face even when in hiding; he is the man who also exposes your true face. Israel Harel of Ha’aretz: “This was no way to fulfill our duty and bring home the boys - by letting a terrorist organization string us along, right up to the last second.” Calling the swap a “humiliating and exorbitantly expensive deal,” Harel writes that “the Shalit deal, could be - if the media keep hurtling with no brakes - much more difficult and expensive than the sad ending of the Regev and Goldwasser deal.” A moral society doesn’t let terrorists abuse it. A moral society doesn’t give in to immoral extortion and doesn’t pay a price that endangers the future of its soldiers and civilians, while sowing the seeds for the next abductions and ensuing concessions. A strong moral society - as we still are - teaches the kidnappers a lesson and leads them to the painful conclusion that kidnapping doesn’t pay. en-us uheilman@jta.org Copyright 2008 2008-07-17T;15:36:18-05:00 Comment by dbirth11@hotmail.com Stupid--stupid=like everything else this goverment does-there is nothing more to say Stupid--stupid=like everything else this goverment does-there is nothing more to say

]]> 2009-11-19T;22:58:01-05:00 Comment by djkid@bigpond.net.au The Tora lists many crimes punishable by death yet the court that imposes more than one death sentance in 10 years is to be replaced for being too harsh. It has been too many decades since Eichman. The Tora lists many crimes punishable by death yet the court that imposes more than one death sentance in 10 years is to be replaced for being too harsh.

It has been too many decades since Eichman.

]]> 2009-11-19T;22:58:01-05:00 Comment by jhirsch@quixnet.net Andrei Schor for Prime Minister! Andrei Schor for Prime Minister!

]]> 2009-11-19T;22:58:01-05:00 Comment by hebrewlife@yahoo.com Anyway, they did the moral thing despite losing the political battle. However, I hope next time Israel battles Hezbollah, instead of trying to destroy Hezbollah, Israel should cripple Hezbollah down to their knees so they could see what cancerous damage they’ve done to Lebanon. Shia Moslems under Nas praising a murderer, ironically Mohammed was the man who stopped the killing of unwanted girls. Anyway, they did the moral thing despite losing the political battle. However, I hope next time Israel battles Hezbollah, instead of trying to destroy Hezbollah, Israel should cripple Hezbollah down to their knees so they could see what cancerous damage they’ve done to Lebanon. Shia Moslems under Nas praising a murderer, ironically Mohammed was the man who stopped the killing of unwanted girls.

]]> 2009-11-19T;22:58:01-05:00 Comment by fearnokhan@yahoo.co.uk how many palistinians childrens has israreal murdered has any jew been brought to trial is the palistines blood different to that of israreal how many palistinians childrens has israreal murdered has any jew been brought to trial is the palistines blood different to that of israreal

]]> 2009-11-19T;22:58:01-05:00 Comment by andre.schor@comcast.net Israel should convey (and mean!) the following clear message to the Hezbollah and their host and supporters: if there is a second round, they should be assured there will not be a third one… Israel should convey (and mean!) the following clear message to the Hezbollah and their host and supporters: if there is a second round, they should be assured there will not be a third one…

]]> 2009-11-19T;22:58:01-05:00 Comment by RmPlans1@gmail.com Kidnapping implies the capture of the victim alive. The return of the victims dead also strongly suggests they died at the hands of their kidnappers which assumes naturally that they were murdered. Hopefully, the condition of Shalit will be more positive. Israel must stop wallowing and regain the strength and direction it once had. This requires without exception the change in leadership to achieve the goals necessary for its long term safe survival. Kidnapping implies the capture of the victim alive. The return of the victims dead also strongly suggests they died at the hands of their kidnappers which assumes naturally that they were murdered. Hopefully, the condition of Shalit will be more positive.

Israel must stop wallowing and regain the strength and direction it once had. This requires without exception the change in leadership to achieve
the goals necessary for its long term safe survival.

]]> 2009-11-19T;22:58:01-05:00 Comment by bogeygolf45@aol.com I am of mixed thoughts:  my son, a chayal bodeim, is w/ the tzanchanim and, if g-d forbid, he was captured I would want every stone unturned to bring him safely home.  on the other hand, the government’s conduct not only encourages more hostage taking but, worse, there is no incentive for anything but the mistreatment of the hostages taken by the terrorists. my prayers and sympathies for the families of the 2 soldiers, heroes of Israel, who tragically passed. we can turn the bitter tastes of sorrows into the sweet smelling taste of victory by an active, vigorous, and full bored attack upon those who organized; lead and carried out the attack that took our boys hostage whereever the miscreants can be found. the peoples who cheer the return of the murderer kuntar are beneath contempt and have forfeited their right to live.  it is a canard to think peace can be achieved with these primitive beasts.  if I am not mistaken did not abbas reach out to kuntar?  and, if so, is this a suitable peace partner? it’s long been time to change the government:  now rather than later. I am of mixed thoughts:  my son, a chayal bodeim, is w/ the tzanchanim and, if g-d forbid, he was captured I would want every stone unturned to bring him safely home.  on the other hand, the
government’s conduct not only encourages more hostage taking but, worse, there is no incentive for anything but the mistreatment of the hostages taken by the terrorists. my prayers and sympathies
for the families of the 2 soldiers, heroes of Israel, who tragically passed.
we can turn the bitter tastes of sorrows into the sweet smelling taste of victory by an active, vigorous, and full bored attack upon those who organized; lead and carried out the attack that took our boys hostage whereever the miscreants can be found.
the peoples who cheer the return of the murderer kuntar are beneath contempt and have forfeited their right to live.  it is a canard to think peace can be achieved with these primitive beasts.  if I am not mistaken did not abbas reach out to kuntar?  and, if so, is this a suitable peace partner?
it’s long been time to change the government:  now rather than later.

]]> 2009-11-19T;22:58:01-05:00