Redeeming the Captives II – The Price We Pay

By Sherwin Pomerantz

This morning’s papers have now clearly stated that Gilad Schalit will be returned to Israel on Tuesday of next week via a crossing from Hamas-controlled Gaza directly to Israel, and not via Egypt as originally announced. If all goes according to plan the Schalit family will enjoy a much deserved celebration at their northern home on Tuesday evening as we enter Hoshanna Raba, the day before we begin again the annual cycle of Torah readings. The timing could not be more appropriate as next Thursday in the Hebrew calendar is the annual day of renewal of our faith. For the Schalit family it will be a celebration of the rebirth of their family unit.

Over the last two days responses to my piece written on Wednesday in support of the government’s decision to release 1,000 prisoners (some people have asked me to correct that to “convicts”) has been mixed but is running 2:1 in favor of the position I took. However, the opposing viewpoint has merit as well and it is good to look at the logic of those who disagreed with me.

That logic goes something like this: (a) the future murders that will result from the release of these people from Israel’s jails are too predictable; (b) we feel for Gilad's family and friends, and understand that soldiers don't want their government to abandon them cavalierly, but in the end this was a political decision by the Netanyahu government and not a moral one; (c) one clear and dramatic result of the deal is how it strengthens Hamas (and Hizbollah and fellow travelers such the Muslim Brotherhood) at the expense of the PLO; (d) and once again Israel has damaged its deterrent capability and demonstrated that terrorism pays. Many have added a postscript that in this case the political right was correct in opposing the action of the government.

There is, of course, no argument whatsoever with this logic. It was/is too heavy a price to pay; yes the people who are released will probably return to terrorism; yes it definitely strengthens Hamas and that’s not a good thing; and, yes, terrorism and obstinacy has won out again. But having said all that, I am still willing to take the risk and hope that our military will be able to take care of these people in the right way should they return to their errant modes of operation, or should others be emboldened to follow their examples. The decision of the government to accept the inflated terms of Hamas (remember that two years ago the price was 450 released convicts, not 1,000) was a moral one and sometimes morality simply wins out, as it should.

Of course, I fully respect the alternative argument and, down deep, have no idea what’s right. I’m just happy that these parents, who have suffered so greatly for five years, will, hopefully, have a whole son returned to them next week and will understand the incredible debt that they owe to all of us for being willing to take this chance and stand by our captured soldiers. We can all be 100% sure that if the shoe were on the other foot, the response by our enemies would not have been so generous.

What everyone needs to understand, both here and abroad, is the simple truth that when it comes to our experiences here there simply is no right or wrong. Each situation needs to be examined on its own merits and then the tough choices have to be made. So I don’t think it is that the “right” was/is “right” but rather that each side has a valid argument and, in this case, an opportunity needed to be grasped before the price went up even further.

We all need to have a special place in our hearts for the anguish of those who have lost loved ones at the hands of these sub-human beings now being released from prison. There are no words of consolation we can offer them, nor is there anything we can do to bring their sons, daughters, spouses and parents back to life. But they, more than any others, can certainly sympathize with the anguish of the parents of Gilad Schalit and, in spite of their angst over the release of the murderers of their loved ones, must also experience just a small amount of joy at the return of one of our boys and the attendant morality of our leadership.

Winston Churchill had it right when he said “A man does what he must – in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures – and that is the basis of all human morality.” So sometimes, morality wins over political expediency, as well it should.