Monday October 17, 2011

I've Been Thinking:

The deal is supposed to go through tomorrow.
I am referring to the prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas, the deal that was negotiated by Egypt and Germany.

There are many hiccups still to come and many that have already come over the past 24 hours. The deal may still breakdown. Debates and discussions and demonstrations have swelled as the time nears.

Whatever happens, it should be clearly understood that this is an extremely painful adventure, an agonizing exchange of prisoners, for Israelis.

Rabbis and ethicists line up on both sides. One side says that the life of Gilad Shalit is more important than the punishment of prisoners convicted of murder. Another side asks how is Shalit's blood redder than the blood of any other victim killed or maimed by the terrorists being released. Others say this is a clear victory for the terrorists who will have achieved their intended goal in kidnapping a soldier and holding him hostage in exchange for prisoners held in Israeli jails.

There is no simple answer.

If the release does go through one family's nightmare will end - but nothing else will change. Nothing at all.

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