Total Pageviews

Monday, October 31, 2011

Saudi Arabia Taking Advantage of Gilad Schalit's Release

Nadene Goldfoot
Sheik Awadh al-Qarani, a prominent  Saudi Arabian cleric,  has offered $100,000 to anyone who captures an Israeli soldier again so that the Palestinians can repeat a swap for Palestinian prisoners that Israel holds. 

Now Prince Khaled bin Talal, a brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who holds no official government position but one of Saudi Arabia's royal family, has increased the reward to $1 million dollars.

This puts every IDF soldier's life in peril even more.  When Sgt. Gilad Schalit was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists, the thought may have been to hold him for ransom which he was.   Hopefully, the thought only arose as the condition appeared. He was held for more than 5 years, and when freed was gaunt and pale, looking like he had been through a horrible ordeal.  None of the prisoners Israel holds have been held under such horrible conditions.  While Gilad was simply kidnapped while doing guard duty, the prisoners Israel holds are there for murderous attacks.  Israel got Gilad back by deciding to free 1,000 prisoners.  It was a hard decision as it has led to this. 

Israel has argued the merits and dangers of such a decision.  Everyone wanted Gilad freed but feared the cost.  So they now also have two rewards of $100,000 to anyone who kills a Palestinian released in the Schalit deal if the Palestinian killed Israelis.  Since almost every citizen serves in the army,  everyone will be aware of lurking terrorists anyway, knowing that 1,000 of them have been freed. 

My thought would be to insert some sort of chip such as used for American pets in case they are lost into these freed killer-prisoners as they were not freed over due course of time as decided by a court system, but to save the life of Gilad.  This chip could alert people that they were lurking in the vicinity and warn Israelis. 

The Oregonian  newspaper got it wrong this morning when they assumed that "the prisoner swap might improve relations between the bitter foes".  It was done for one reason only; to save Gilad.  The government knew that freeing 1,000 prisoners was dangerous.  But to Israelis a life is precious, and they knew he could not last much longer.  That was the only deal the terrorists would go for.  It was, after 5 years of trying, the only way Gilad could be saved. 

That lives are precious means that Israelis will do all they can to stop terrorists from trying to take more of theirs.  When terrorists attack, Israel will retaliate, not in kind but stronger.  There seems to be no other way to deter such attacks.  Talking doesn't help.  Reasoning doesn't help. 

Personally, I think that was a once in a lifetime proposition.  Israel isn't about to fall for that again, now knowing what it can lead to.  The attacks of Hamas over the weekend on Israel with a volley of 39 or more rockets and missiles demonstrates that the terrorists who rule Gaza are out for blood.  Don't forget that this followed a recent attack the preceding week.  They even had a newer type of missile launcher this time.  Well, why not, with Saudi Arabia footing the bills.  This is and has always been an attack of war on Israel. 

Resource:  Oregonian newspaper 10/31/2011 page A4

No comments: