There really are no words that can adequately express my feelings about this whole situation. My anger at Israel and the US for not fighting harder to get these soldiers back sooner (and possibly alive), my disgust at the terrorists who commit these kinds of acts of barbarism, my sadness and sympathy for the families of these fallen soldiers.
I was in Israel a little over two weeks ago when news services first reported that the Israeli Cabinet had decided to make a prisoner exchange. Israel giving up 5 (living) terrorists and Lebanon returning Goldwasser and Regev - their status was unknown. Early reports actually claimed they were alive. To see the looks of shocked joy on Israeli faces at the possibility of the soldiers being alive evolve into resigned faces of unsurprised mourning was one of the most emotionally challenging experiences of my life. For the first time, I actually understood the true strength of the Israeli people.
I’ve written about this situation before - after hearing Karnit Goldwasser speak at Cornell, at the one year anniversary of the kidnapping, and after Karnit challenged Ahmadinejad at a UN press conference.
As insanely upsetting as it is to me that Israel would agree to turn over 5 living terrorists - one of whom is Samir Kuntar, a Palestinian terrorist who brutally killed 5 Israelis in 1979 -and dozens of bodies in exchange for two bodies… I can now understand why, as a nation, they have to.
I think this paragraph from the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs puts it into perspective:
Israel has a duty, as a nation and as a people, to protect those who risk their young lives to defend its citizens. Every Israeli soldier knows that their country will do its utmost to retrieve them should they fall into the hands of the enemy. This is an expression of Israel’s deep reverence for human life and of its respect for the fallen. This principle stems from Israel’s sense of morality as well as from Jewish ethics. It is a demonstration of Israel’s moral and physical strength.
Thy children shall come again to their own border. Jeremiah 31:17
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More information on Goldwasser, Regev, and Shalit (who is still in the hands of Hamas):
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
YNetNews.com
JPost
Banim
Very sad. I just cannot agree that this was necessary for Israel to do. Trading live terrorists for dead soldiers results in more terrorism and more dead soldiers. It essentially guarantees that kidnapped victims will not remain alive in the hands of these animals. Though, I doubt they would anyway.
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You’re blogging again! Now I can turn over the reins and let you have your site back.
Great post… very, very sad and horrible situation.
Mom - I agree that ultimately this wasn’t the best move for Israel. I understand where they’re coming from… but now I feel like Hamas has no motivation to return Shalit alive. I really wish Israel (and the US) would have really gone in and bombed the crap out of Hizbollah and Lebanon 2 years ago after they kidnapped Regev and Goldwasser.
Roxeanne - You’re more than welcome to keep blogging here!