Who is Gilad Shalit?

  

11816No comments yethttp://www.parcbench.com/2009/12/08/who-is-gilad-shalit/Who+is+Gilad+Shalit%3F2009-12-08+14%3A22%3A24Annie++Peck

Written by Annie PeckcloseAuthor: Annie Peck Name: Annie Peck
Email: annie.peck@nyu.edu
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About: Annie is a student at New York University studying politics and Jewish History with a focus on foreign diplomacy. She is an active member in the NYU College Republicans, as well as other youth Republican and Zionist organizations.See Authors Posts (5) on December 8, 2009

If you’ve been reading a weird sounding name on the news lately and are not sure of who it is, chances are it is the 23 year old Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, who was taken into captivity by the Palestinian terrorist organization, Hamas, in June of 2006.

The Israeli government has been diligently working towards Shalit’s release for over three years. Hamas has refused to allow the Red Cross to see Shalit, violating international law and causing doubt as to whether or not he was still alive. Finally, in late Septemeber, Hamas agreed to release a video proving that Shalit is still alive in exchange for the release of twenty female Palestinian soldiers. The video showed Shalit in meager, but somewhat healthy conditions, holding a newspaper with a current date on it and speaking about the current Prime Minister Netanyahu, ensuring the accuracy of the date of the video.

The current situation regarding the issue of Gilad Shalit is what more it will take to obtain his release. The reason that he has been in the news a lately is because peace talks are moving forward and a release in the coming weeks is looking promising. However, the cost for his return is more expensive than it is fruitful. In Judaism, every single life is valued, which contributes to the government’s commitment to Shalit’s release. However, more lives will be touched by his release than anyone could ever imagine.

Right now, Hamas is asking for the release of 450 prisoners, including senior Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail for murder, many coordinators of suicide bombing attacks, and ten senior Hamas leaders. Their release back into the free world will no doubt increase terrorist action. Israel asked for them to be exiled from the Palestinian territories, but terrorist organizations seem to never follow the rules, so that stipulation can’t exactly be expected to hold firm.

The entire country of Israel is fighting for the release of Gilad Shalit. In a country where most of the population serves a minimum of two years in the military, it’s easy to view Gilad as your own son or daughter. Parents everywhere fear this situation and they feel sympathy and compassion towards Gilad’s parents, Noam and Aviva, who lobby Knesset members almost daily to release their son. But what about the parents of those who were killed by the prisoners set to be released?  What about the parents of the next soldier who gets kidnapped in an attempt to get Israel to release 1,000 more prisoners? The release of these dangerous terrorists could cost more lives than we can imagine. But is that a reason to give up on the fight for Gilad?

Students from a pre-military academy in Israel have written letters to Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding their apprehension of the release of these 450 prisoners.

One letter reads, “We, who stand before our induction into the IDF, hear with astonishment about the intention to release terrorists and mass murderers,” the letter said. “We love Gilad and want his return, but as soldiers in the near future we would not like to limit the decision-making echelon to considerations in which the pain of the individual stands above all.”

In a country that was built on socialism, does releasing 450 terrorists for one soldier

warrant the potential threat that the rest of the country will face? It’s too hard of a question to answer. As the negotiations between Hamas and Netanyahu continue over these next few weeks, try to feel the weight on the country of Israel. Save a life and risk hundreds or even thousands?  Perhaps the strength and resilience of Israel truly does come from the fact that they do not abandon anyone in the battlefield. Perhaps the sanctity of every single human life that Israel values is the very thing ensuring this country’s

continued success throughout modern history. Israel realizes that the abandonment of one person is simply not an option, and will in turn rely on the Grace of God to protect the citizens of Israel from the 450 newly released terrorists just waiting to prowl.

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