Friday, 25 June 2010
An Israeli soldier held hostage is a taunt against the Zionist promise of self-defense, an unbearable reminder of Jewish helplessness.
Our obsession with hostages is a tactical weakness but a strategic strength. It allows terrorists a stunning psychological advantage: With a single random kidnapping, they hold an entire society emotionally hostage. Strategically, though, hostage-taking only strengthens Israeli resolve.
-Yossi Klein Halevi, June 2006
Plus one made three:
Eldad Regev died from a loss of blood during the kidnapping, and wounded Ehud Goldwasser was savagely, viciously, and sadistically tormented before the Hezbollah finally killed him.
Then there was only one.
In July 2008, in exchange for the remains of Udi and Eldad, Israel not only released five prisoners (including Samir Kuntar, who had been sentenced to 542 years in prison), but also handed over the remains of 199 "Lebanese and Palestinian fighters." and promised to free "scores of Palestinian prisoners at a later date" as a "gesture to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon."
Gilad Shalit, if still alive, remains captive. Today is the fourth anniversary of his abduction.
