The Shalits' risky strategy
The outburst by Yoel Shalit, brother of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, at the torch lighting ceremony on Monday night, was the lead headline in most newspapers and news shows on Wednesday morning. The outburst was apparently part of a more aggressive strategy being adopted by the Shalit family. On Wednesday, Noam Schalit issued a blistering criticism to Army Radio concerning the current government, saying "the only thing this administration knows how to do is create fear of terror attacks among the public when it comes to discussing a prisoner exchange."The Shalit family is taking a substantial risk of alienating a large segment of the Israeli public and that was clear in this morning's radio news programs. While I may have convinced many of you of the folly of releasing large numbers terrorists in exchange for Gilad Shalit, most Israelis agree with the Shalits and are willing to see large numbers of terrorists released in exchange for Gilad. Where they lose it is when they are told that they have to be willing to pay 'any price.'
Noam told Army Radio that holidays continue to be especially difficult for his family. "We are still waiting for Gilad to celebrate those holidays with him," he said, adding that as the five-year anniversary of Gilad's abduction approaches, he has decided to amp up his campaign to secure his son's release. "I don't like to make threats, but we don't really have a choice," he said.
Also on Wednesday, Gilad Schalit's grandfather Zvi told Israel Radio that Yoel's public outburst was a result of frustration caused by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's lack of action on the issue.
For many Israelis, what Yoel Shalit did on Monday night was over the line. It violated and marred a ceremony that many Israelis consider sacred. Most Israelis don't believe that their government is ignoring Gilad Shalit. Self-centered hysteria from the Shalit family will only turn Israelis against them and make Israelis less willing to pay an exorbitant price for Gilad's release.
And again, one has to wonder why all the protests are targeting Netanyahu and not Hamas or the Red Cross.
Labels: Gilad Shalit, Hamas, International Committee of the Red Cross, Palestinian recidivism, Palestinian terrorism
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:49 PM
2 Comments:
I've been fed up with the Shalits for ages. I did not elect them nor are they rational.
They can have my pity but not my family's security.
It was just announced today that Ben Livnat Yosef was murdered 2 weeks ago at Joseph's Tomb by a released Arab terrorist. This is what the Shalits want us to fiddle with a thousand times over.
Exactly. Israelis understand Netanyahu is a decent man.
The Shalits should should be shouting at Abu Bluff. He is now the guy holding their son hostage.
Why aren't they holding him accountable?
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