Israel's security cabinet reportedly has approved the release of 20 female Palestinian prisoners in exchange for videotaped proof that captured IDF soldier Gilad Schalit is alive and well. After the names of the 20 prisoners are published online, the public will have 48 hours to appeal the decision.
The prisoner release is risky. It once again sends the message that terrorism works. It also may be unnecessary. A German mediator, we are told, has already seen the tape. He has a moral obligation to reveal the nature of its contents and this alone could suffice as prove of Schalit's condition.
I understand the Schalit's family, as well as others, would prefer to see the tape themselves, but it is simply not worth the release of security prisoners, even ones without Israeli blood directly on their hands. (Some were indirectly involved in attacks on Israelis, but did not commit murder themselves.)
It is hard to understand why the Israeli government would release prisoners in this case when the information it seeks about the soldier is already known. The German could tell them. Considering that the Red Cross or anyone else has been denied any access to Schalit and that his capture was an act of terrorism, the German has no duty -- and, in fact, has a responsibility -- to report his condition.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
An Historic Speech Not to be Missed
Amid recent assertions by Iran's President that the Holocaust never occurred, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday presented the UN archival material maintained by the German government proving Nazi plans to exterminate Jews. Netanyahu also unequivocally rebuked a UN panel's report accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza and urged the UN reject it. His audience listened intently to his every word, at one point interrupting with applause.
If you haven't seen the speech -- surely to be remembered as one of the best ever delivered by a world leader at the UN or anywhere -- make it a priority to do so this weekend, and tell your family and friends. Here is a link to part 1.
If you haven't seen the speech -- surely to be remembered as one of the best ever delivered by a world leader at the UN or anywhere -- make it a priority to do so this weekend, and tell your family and friends. Here is a link to part 1.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
No Progress is Good Progress
One problem with the leftist peace camp is that it believes it is up to Israel to deliver peace and that Israel alone is to blame for any lack of progress. Consider for example the following:
Since again becoming Prime Minister some six months ago, the “peace process” had yet to advance and already Netanyahu is being blamed. On September 13, the Israeli daily Ma’ariv opined that Netanyahu, like former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, “does nothing.” Another leading Israeli daily, Ha’aretz, claimed “Netanyahu has not made one significant political achievement” and is “leading us astray.”
The most difficult lesson of the Oslo period which the political left cannot seem to grasp is that an apparent lack of “progress” on the peace process is, ironically, exactly what the process needs to succeed. The longer the Palestinians go without Israeli concessions on land, settlements and other tangibles, the more likely they are to finally realize the need to make concessions of their own. (Palestinian violence may increase in the short-term but only until the masses finally realize it is useless.) The Palestinians need to understand that they must meet Israel half-way on most, if not all, issues, just as the political left needs to understand that peace is a two-way street. The political left believes that if only Israel met Palestinian demands, peace would be at hand. They're entirely wrong.
The Oslo process demonstrated that signed agreements are useless if one of the signatories has no intent to live up to them. By refusing to produce “progress” for the sake of progress alone, the Netanyahu government signals the Palestinians that the ball is in their court. The political left would best serve the cause of peace if they pressured Palestinians, not Israel, to show good faith and make tangible proposals as to how to advance peace.
Since again becoming Prime Minister some six months ago, the “peace process” had yet to advance and already Netanyahu is being blamed. On September 13, the Israeli daily Ma’ariv opined that Netanyahu, like former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, “does nothing.” Another leading Israeli daily, Ha’aretz, claimed “Netanyahu has not made one significant political achievement” and is “leading us astray.”
The most difficult lesson of the Oslo period which the political left cannot seem to grasp is that an apparent lack of “progress” on the peace process is, ironically, exactly what the process needs to succeed. The longer the Palestinians go without Israeli concessions on land, settlements and other tangibles, the more likely they are to finally realize the need to make concessions of their own. (Palestinian violence may increase in the short-term but only until the masses finally realize it is useless.) The Palestinians need to understand that they must meet Israel half-way on most, if not all, issues, just as the political left needs to understand that peace is a two-way street. The political left believes that if only Israel met Palestinian demands, peace would be at hand. They're entirely wrong.
The Oslo process demonstrated that signed agreements are useless if one of the signatories has no intent to live up to them. By refusing to produce “progress” for the sake of progress alone, the Netanyahu government signals the Palestinians that the ball is in their court. The political left would best serve the cause of peace if they pressured Palestinians, not Israel, to show good faith and make tangible proposals as to how to advance peace.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Norway's Folly
If Israel's so-called separation barrier between it and the West Bank has, by most accounts, put an end to Palestinian suicide attacks inside Israel, what sense does it make to boycott a company that makes that barrier possible?
Absolutely none.
Yet, that's exactly what Norway's state pension fund has done. It reportedly divested itself on Friday of $5.4 million dollars in stock in Elbit Systems which supplies surveillance detection equipment for the barrier.
Norway says Elbit "directly contributes to violations of international humanitarian law," and it secretly sold Elbit stock, probably to limit bad press and pressure not to divest. It says the barrier "unacceptably restricts" Palestinian movement.
In a handful of locations, the barrier indeed impedes Palestinian movement, but certainly the benefits of the barrier -- saving Israeli lives -- necessitates any such inconvenience.
What is really behind Norway's decision? Do the Norwegians simply misunderstand the facts surrounding the barrier? Or, does something more sinister lie behind their decision? It is notable that Norway provided no advance warning of its decision, thereby depriving Israel or its defenders an opportunity to explain why divestment is wrong.
Absolutely none.
Yet, that's exactly what Norway's state pension fund has done. It reportedly divested itself on Friday of $5.4 million dollars in stock in Elbit Systems which supplies surveillance detection equipment for the barrier.
Norway says Elbit "directly contributes to violations of international humanitarian law," and it secretly sold Elbit stock, probably to limit bad press and pressure not to divest. It says the barrier "unacceptably restricts" Palestinian movement.
In a handful of locations, the barrier indeed impedes Palestinian movement, but certainly the benefits of the barrier -- saving Israeli lives -- necessitates any such inconvenience.
What is really behind Norway's decision? Do the Norwegians simply misunderstand the facts surrounding the barrier? Or, does something more sinister lie behind their decision? It is notable that Norway provided no advance warning of its decision, thereby depriving Israel or its defenders an opportunity to explain why divestment is wrong.
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