Israel Matzav: Inviting the next kidnapping

Inviting the next kidnapping

As the government gives orders to its negotiators to move ahead on a deal that will release 1500-2000 terrorists in exchange for kidnapped IDF corporal Gilad Shalit, the 'Palestinians' conclude that kidnapping Israeli soldiers and civilians is a valid strategy that yields positive results. And so, the 'Palestinians' look at a mass release of terrorists not as the end of one kidnapping, but as the beginning of the next one.

This PMW Special Report includes 50 Palestinian statements concerning the Palestinian kidnapping-for-hostage policy. The statements cover the period since the release of 1000 terrorists by Israel in exchange for a kidnapped Israeli in 2004, until the current negotiations for the release of Gilad Shalit in December 2009. These Palestinian statements document that the Palestinian motivation and justification today for continued kidnappings is the direct result of the earlier prisoner releases.

Israel's release of prisoners in exchange for hostages is not seen by Palestinian society as merely the last stage of one kidnapping, but as the first stage of the next kidnapping.

...

Due to Israel's willingness to release Palestinian terrorists from jail in exchange for freeing kidnapped and imprisoned Israeli hostages, Palestinians have concluded that kidnapping-for-hostage is a valid strategy to achieve the release of additional Palestinian terrorists. This report documents that these opinions are found across the political spectrum and among the Palestinian leadership, both Fatah and Hamas.

Read the whole thing.

Who will be the next kidnapping victim?

Who will be the first victims of a terror attack carried out by one of the freed terrorists?

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Barak disavowed a statement by a 'senior person in the Prime Minister's office' that accused IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi of behaving like the chairman of the soldiers' parents' committee. While I can understand parents pushing for their own child's release, the government ought to have a broader view and keep the general public's interest at heart. While Ashkenazi may deem his first loyalty to be to the IDF, he's wrong. His first loyalty ought to be to the people of Israel.

As I am typing this, Israel Radio is reporting that Hamas is already drafting its victory statement. Sickening.

Reuters and the BBC Arabic service are reporting that the German intermediary is now in Gaza meeting with Hamas. It looks like this 'deal' is going to happen. What could go wrong?

Israel Matzav: Inviting the next kidnapping