On Releasing Terrorists

Ze’ev Schiff, writing in Haaretz on Israel’s consideration of whether to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for Gilad Shalit:

The concern of the Shalit family for their son is an important element in the considerations, and there is an obligation to do the utmost to bring home any IDF soldier imprisoned by the enemy. But there are dissenting voices: families whose sons were killed during an operation to capture those terrorists who are about to be released, or those who lost family members to terrorist attacks. Those who are guilty are now on Hamas’ list to be released.

At their blog “This Ongoing War,” Frimet and Arnold Roth write:

One of the names on the list is Abdullah Barghouti, described as “a senior leader in Hamas’ military wing.” It’s a name that is known to the authors of this blog.

Barghouti built the bomb that ended the life of our daughter, Malki. . . . [H]e has been frequently described in the media — and from his own mouth — as the brains behind the Sbarro restaurant massacre on 9th August 2001.

Arrested and put on trial in Israel, Barghouti pleaded guilty and told the court he "did this to kill as many Israelis as possible". He was rewarded in December 2004 with a sentence of 67 life-terms in an Israeli prison (report).

The 67 life terms are because he killed 66 Israelis, including 15-year old Malki Roth.

In addition to the “dissenting voices” of certain families, there are those who have noticed that every prisoner release energizes terrorists, demoralizes Israel, leads to more kidnappings (and recidivist killings), and results in even higher release prices later on.  Here is an excerpt from a Jerusalem Post article on January 24, 2004, on the occasion of the last negotiated release, done by Ariel Sharon:

[Shaul Mofaz] admitted that the price Israel was paying for the return of the remains of St.-Sgts. Benny Avraham, Adi Avitan, and Omar Sawayid, and civilian Elhanan Tannenbaum was a heavy one . . . Israel is releasing 435 Palestinian and Lebanese prisoners. . . .

"In the future we will achieve even greater results than today," [Hizbullah leader Sheikh] Nasrallah said. Asked if Hizbullah would carry out further kidnappings, Nasrallah smiled and said, "Yes."

Referring to the prisoners who are to be released, Nasrallah said that more than 400 prisoners is a good number, considering Israel’s initial refusal to release any prisoners.

Fast forward to 2006. Ehud Olmert initially (and repeatedly) refused to release any prisoners.  At a press conference with the foreign press on July 10, 2006, Olmert said:

I will not negotiate with Hamas.  I repeat, I want it to be very clear.  I don’t negotiate with Hamas, I did not negotiate with Hamas, and I will not negotiate with Hamas.  I will not release prisoners to trade off the Corporal Gilad Shalit to Hamas. . . . I think that trading prisoners with a terrorist, bloody organization as Hamas is, is a major mistake that will cause a lot of damage to the future of the State of Israel. . . .  the Israeli corporal has to be freed and released without any conditions . . . .

As Olmert reviews the list he has received from Hamas, trying to decide how many hundreds of prisoners to release, Nasrallah must be laughing.