As Gilad Shalit approaches five years in Hamas captivity, how far should Israel go to bring him home?

Weekly Question: As Gilad Shalit approaches five years in Hamas captivity, how far should Israel go to bring him home?

Please leave a comment below to let us know what you think.

June 20, 2011

72 Comments → “As Gilad Shalit approaches five years in Hamas captivity, how far should Israel go to bring him home?”

harry porter

4:02 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Israel should treat the prisoners it holds exactly as hamas treat Gilad. No visitation rights from fa mily, no connections to the outside world, no visits from the Red Cross.Does the world think better of us for being humane? An “Entebbe” raid would surely guarantee his demise, In a swap only prisoners with clean hands (like Gilad’s) should bi included.

Harry

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 33 5

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Leslie Jackson

4:48 pm

Jun 20, 2011

We should capture two top leaders in the Hamas and Ten less leaders and user them for the return of Gilad Schalit.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 21 1

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Henry Federman

4:49 pm

Jun 20, 2011

It’s a tough decision to make,on one hand everyone wants Shalit free,but Hamas wants the release of murderers with blood on their hands released which Israel does not want to let go
World pressure has not worked so far,a raid to release him might get him killed,first they would have to find out where he is hidden,as they keep on moving him.From a father point of view I would do everything in my power to set him free but the heartless Palestinians don’t understand that,they would rather see their sons dying for Allah than release an Israeli, such is their hate.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 15 2

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Joseph

5:04 pm

Jun 20, 2011

As far as it takes, without giving-in to blackmail.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 10 2

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Mickey Oberman

5:19 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Impose a total ban on all goods and services of any nature going into Gaza and on any exports from Gaza.
Drop pamphlets in Arabic over all of Gaza on a daily basis telling the inhabitants the reason for the ban and who is responsible for it.
Tell them the safe return of Gilad Shalit would free up most banned items.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 18 2

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Myrna

5:20 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Go in and get him!

Hot debate. What do you think? 7 7

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Roger G. Bensman

5:22 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
I have followed this mischugas off and on for five years. 1. To begin with, any time a Jew is abducted by goyim, efforts must be made to retrieve that person, as this is a Jewish mitzvah/duty. It is also also a tradgedy for the family, make no mistake.

2. That said, this Shalit item is just that: an item. It does NOT deserve to become a NATIONAL CAUSE CELIBRE, let alone a WORLDWIDE CRUSADE! Here is a great example of a routine occurrance gone utterly haywire and blown absolutely out of all proportional concern. This is/was a soldier. Soldiers are, by definition, personages set in harm’s way. Treat it that way. To make it into some kind of religion is a disgrace. In lots of circumstances throughout history and across the globe, prisoners have never all been repatriated. This soldier is just one more cipher in the grand total.

For expample, there are millions of poles still in Germany and Russia; millions of Germans still in Russia; French in Germany; Germans in France; and on and on and on, unto all the nations of this tired Earth; name your country and you will find the same thing. Let Shalit be; G-d will do what He will do, all in due time.

3. By placing this very small item way back on the burner, it may be that one day, when the Enemy finds him no longer a bargaining chip for GREAT GAINS that will really hurt Israel, either he will be returned alive or maybe dead. It is not within Israel’s power to make this determination. It may be that he will never be returned. So it is G-d’s will.

4. The main point is this: STOP MAKING THIS SOME KIND OF CENTRAL DO-OR-DIE national major issue that just keeps on coming up every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday(sounds better in Yiddish). Stop Israel from holding Israel hostage to this one single personage. It is disgusting and a waste of time and national treasure. And don’t even THINK about giving up 10,000 arab JewKillers for this singular nice Jewish boy. There are lots of nice Jewish boys and girls who will stay alive by not making further issue connected with this nice Jewish boy, a soldier in the Jewish War Against The JewHaters.

5. There are plenty of you out there who’s hearts are bleeding about Shalit. JUST STOP IT! He wasn’t the first and he won’t be the last. Get over it!

Poorly-rated. Agree or Disagree: 2 12

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Mickey Oberman

5:24 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Myrna. “Go in and get him!”
And risk the lives of other Israeli soldiers?
Please reconsider.

Agree or Disagree: 3 3

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Michel

5:25 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Gilad Schalit has waisted too many years of his life in a Hamas jail in probably horrific conditions. Without compromising Israel security or giving-in to blackmail, the Israeli government should make everything it can to free him, even if it meant bending some of its own rules or making sacrifices.

Agree or Disagree: 4 3

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Mickey Oberman

5:37 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Roger G. Bensman,

Gilad Shalit is not an “item”. He is a human being.

I doubt that you would feel or talk that way if it was your son in captivity.

A father.

Agree or Disagree: 3 1

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Henry Federman

5:38 pm

Jun 20, 2011

To Roger,I believe strongly that a country has a duty to help save its citizen the the utmost of their ability,without it you are not safe anywhere.And by the way it is not Monday Wednesday and Friday it is Monday ,Wednesday and Thursday!

Agree or Disagree: 1 1

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Snowman

5:45 pm

Jun 20, 2011

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I suppose Israel could start executing one HAMAS prisoner a day until they free Shalit

Poorly-rated. Agree or Disagree: 0 10

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roy tolchinsky

5:48 pm

Jun 20, 2011

I AM A FATHER AND GRANDFATHER I DO FEEL FOR GILAD AND THE SHALIT FAMILY.
I BELIEVE THE ISRAEL IS DOING WHAT IT CAN TO GET THIS YOUNG MAN HOME.
WE ARE DEALING WITH ANIMALS WHO HAS NO UNDERSTANDING OF COMON DECINCY.

Agree or Disagree: 4 1

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a kay

5:53 pm

Jun 20, 2011

One should not let emotion govern the Shalit issue. Its obvious Hamas won’t let him go unless there is an agreement that is in their favour. The UN is not really cooperating.What to do. What I would like to see is that Israel not allow any Palestinian prisoners have contact with the outside world. But of course the Israelis see themselves as more humane people. Balderdash. This is war and war demands that evil be confronted. Gee where have I heard that before. Furthermore all payments that are due now and in the future to the Palestinians are immediately cut off. The above 2 suggestions should be done without fanfare. The point will be noted by the Palestinians. Then i would like to see the Israelis refuse medical treatment for Palestinians from Gaza. Israel just doesn’t get it. She is at war with these people. If the Palestinians and Israels other enemies get the other hand what do you think will happen to every Jew. Medical treatment? Payments? Prisoners being given good food? Hmmmm.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 9 1

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Yotam

6:11 pm

Jun 20, 2011

It pains me to say we can’t allow ourselves to make any concessions to Hamas. I don’t think we should even free one terrorist in exchange. It would just encourage them to kidnap more people, and then we’d back to where we are now. If we can bring him back with an operation, then good. But if not, all we can do is hope Hamas isn’t treating him too badly.

But at the same time we can’t tell Shalit’s family that it’s wrong to try to bring him back in any possible way. It would be ridiculous to criticize them. But from now on we should make it clear to all soldiers in advance that as soldiers they risk capture and should not expect to be returned, and I say this as someone who will join the IDF next year.

Agree or Disagree: 3 2

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shulamit zirin

6:17 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Curb all the priveliges that Arab prisoners have in Israeli jails, internet, cellphones, taking courses,etc.
Force the Red cross to see if he is alive.
DO NOT trade terrorists for him, it will bring more terror to Isral

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 7 0

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LEON

6:17 pm

Jun 20, 2011

TREAT PRISONERS HELD BY ISRAEL,MOSTLY MURDERERS, AS SHALLIT IS BEING TREATED…..NO VISITS NO RED CROSS….ISRAELS NAME IS MUD ANYWAY……NO MORE MEDICAL OR SUSTAINING ALLOWANCES…..FOR GOODNESS SAKE ISRAEL….SHOW YOUR METTLE AND REALLY DO SOMETHING FOR ONCE !!!!!!

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 5 0

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Eric

7:39 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Israel should give Hamas what/whom ever they want to get Shalit. Once Shalit is back, go back into GAZA and take back what/whom ever was given.

Agree or Disagree: 0 0

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Michal Ravdin

7:46 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Israel should publish the names of all those agreed by us to be released, and those who should be expelled, and then prevent from them all visits, uncluding Red Cross, and all communication facilities – radio, TV, mobile phones, news papers.
Let their families get crazy and force Hamas to release Gilad.
For some weird reason we have never tried it so far. It is high time we should!

Agree or Disagree: 1 0

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anne dodi miller-sloman

7:55 pm

Jun 20, 2011

Why is Israel procastinating

“REMEMBER ENTEBE”

Agree or Disagree: 0 0

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