There are no shortage of moral, strategic, and societal challenges of Israel negotiating a hostage deal with Hamas, balancing the urgency of saving lives with security concerns and regional stability.
Why should Israel allow Hamas any conditions? You release our hostages, you unconditionally surrender, you turn over all your weapons and blow up all your tunnels and only then will we agree to a ceasefire.
I think it important to note how many have died as a direct consequence of the Shalit deal since 2011: killed prior to Oct 7 by one of the 1027 released terrorists, as well as on Oct 7 which was masterminded by Sinwar, who was released in that disastrous exchange, after his life was saved by an Israeli doctor.
Unfortunately, ignorant people quote “pikuach nefesh” with respect to freeing hostages without understanding that there is no precedent in Halacha (which dealt with monetary bribes) for the Sophie’s choice Israel is presented with, when forced into such “deals” in which one life is saved now but many lost later. It is an absolute certainty that people will die in the future in order to secure the release of the few remaining live hostages now, the only question is will the number be in the hundreds or thousands.
Also, we all know “international guarantees“ are not worth the paper they are printed on. So that point is a nonstarter.
If Israel is going to negotiate with a terrorist entity, allow them to remain in Gaza...and enjoy huge support from the world's NGO's and media, shouldn't Israel at LEAST get back the few remaining living hostage and the murdered ones...at once....not in stages to further agonize the Israeli public and its friends....ALL , NOW.... How is Israel supposed to conduct business as usual with Hamas still the ruling entity? Shall Israel be further humiliated and reprimanded by the likes of Pope Francis and Albanese and Ken Loach...and be made to pay Reparations for rebuilding Gaza? Are we that craven a people? Because that will surely be what the international community minus the Biden administration ...demands of Israel. I'm very distressed about what happens for Israel next. So many enemies from CBS to BBC to Guardian to UN to.....it's never ending.....they really want the Jews dead. At least the Jewish national renaissance dead. Save the hostages...ALL of them including dead ones ...in one hand over...not drips and drabs. as Israel will surely be forced to release thousands of terrorists to more jubilation and celebration at Cornell, Columbia, Berkeley, Oxford and Cambridge.....and B. Sanders and the squad, too for good measure.
This war has forever cemented the invaluable currency of the Jewish hostage in exchange for the murderous prisoner. In Israel's earliest days, my understanding was they they never negotiated for hostages; a position that signaled to it's enemies that there was no value to that tactic. Now, any time the islamists want any concession from Israel, all they need to do is take one or more hostages -- the more the better. Israel should demand that Hamas unconditionally surrender and that all hostages are released. No prisoners should be released in exchange. My heart goes out to all the impacted family and friends of the hostages, but all a hostage deal does is make vulnerable every Jew, anywhere in the world. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.
I would only support a deal in which all hostages are released at once. Then MAYBE the cost could be justified as at least the demons would no longer have any leverage. The very idea of negotiating with monsters is misguided. Its like negotiating with a shark to not eat you.
The sentiments expressed in this opinion piece is shared by many Israelis and Diasporic Jews. The conjectural nature of policies analyze in this article is revealed in the constant framing issues in terms of might, may, and should.
The enemy learned through past hostage taking episodes that it not only pays but pays big to kidnap Israelis. They learned that world opinion impelled by mainstream media will censure your victims, not you. They learned that world leaders may utter PC bromides, but largely they are indifferent and will take no action against you, not even when their own citizens have been abducted.
Hopefully high level Israeli security and military analysts and government officials as well will have a more realistic and pragmatic assessment of the situation. Past experience will teach them that leaving Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestine Jihad, and companies in place will with absolute certainty lead not just to another Oct 7th, but having learned from the mistakes they made that day, they will be able to launch new and improved Oct 7ths. It is a promise they publicly made on more than one occasion, and when it comes to promises they make about Israel and Jews, their word is gold.
The anguish of the hostage families is palpable and of course entirely understandable. Will "Bring[ing] them home at any cost" be acceptable if Israeli authorities give in to the terrorists' demands and much more Jewish blood runs in the streets? Is this the fulfillment of Pikuach nefesh? Is winning hostage release through military rescue not a better strategy than sacrificing future Jewish lives? As the saying goes, we re between a rock and a hard place. Hard as it is to entertain the thought, survival of the many must be first order of priority.
Those who Pikuach Nefesh as a rationale for a deal are ignorant of the fact that Decisors of Jewish law maintain that Pikuach Nefesh has no application in wartime on a national level and that such exchanges were not conducted during the Covil War or WW1 and WW2 despite the horrific treatment of Allied POWs
A remarkably lyrical discussion using the specifics of known polarities. "... any agreement should include mechanisms to monitor released prisoners and prevent their reintegration into terror networks". I thought that but didn't dare utter it. My imagining is that given that advanced hi-tech is readily available, an infinitely tiny device can be implanted with any variety of options for monitoring, or hampering actions, or imploding on command etc. The stuff of science fiction is already available. Invasive? So what. Or, sew what - sew whatever it takes to never again allow a known terrorist to ever move freely without 100% monitoring control sewn into their body. Any minor infraction, including any attempt to remove the device, could incur the most immediate and ideally the most severe penalty.
I agree with the caveats here in the comments section ahead of my own comment here. Because of your thorough analysis, together with the comments that add other dimensions, I have linked to your article in my latest article on this topic: https://ozsheri.substack.com/p/i-hate-that-we-are-negotiating-with
The released prisoners must be constantly monitored from day 1.. I like the idea of tiny embedded chips. Punishment for these low life’s must be implemented as soon as the poster out of line. Plus any hostages who carry life sentences for murder or multiple rapes should be executed in a number at least equal to any dead or missing Israeli hostages.
Solomon may be gone, but the LORD is always there. We need to seek His wisdom. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Psalm 37.
A very thoughtful essay, Joshua, but this doesn't look like a deal for Israel but one for Hamas. And why, again, is Israel releasing prisoners in exchange for 33 hostages in the first phase? As the Libs say, "where's the moral equivalency?" I've just completed reading about groups of young Palestinians being trained as of now to fight against Israelis. Hamas has rarely, if ever, honored a ceasefire. What makes this time different? And what about the soldiers who have fought bravely and were killed or gravely wounded? Their families are suffering too, and this is not to lessen the absolute nightmare of the hostage's families because they face the unknown about their loved ones. This "deal" was not a win-win for sure. It was to push something through because of the new sheriff in town. Maybe there will be more to come that we are not privy to, and hopefully so. Israel and its people deserve more than this.
It cannot be overlooked that Trump's team is also applying pressure to Israel to make a deal because Trump wants the optics of hostages being released on his inauguration. If a deal is favorable to hamas and bad for Israel, that's on Trump. I don't want to hear any excuses or Trump getting a free pass. There's no way that Bibi after more than a year of defying the Biden regime is going to suddenly cave while they're on their way out the door. There's no doubt in my mind that Trump is behind applying pressure to Israel to get a deal. Both Biden and Trump will take credit at Israel's expense.
I personally think after Trump gets in, this particular deal won't exist. What I do think is that Trump spoke too soon about getting this done. Bad move on his part. I do agree with you that he would like the optics, but what politician wouldn't? Biden is already taking full credit since this was his admin's plan from the beginning.
"The international communities response" ... hah. We know what that will be. In 5 years no one will remember 10/7 and the ensuing war other then the Jews and her enemies.
No Pros only Cons on this one. It is a catch 22 for Yisrael. If you dare you burn and if you don't dare, you will still burn. It is the current situation since October 7th and will remain until wisdom returns. I stopped crying for you, it's ripping my innards.
I’m an outsider, with no blood/skin in the game… There are always aspects involved that people are unaware of, and I hope that something in that mix redeems this apparent debacle. But, to your point, the issue often isn’t one of not knowing what to do (needing Solomonic wisdom); it’s more one of being willing to do what one knows is right, or necessary, regardless of whatever loss, pain, or suffering may follow.
Why should Israel allow Hamas any conditions? You release our hostages, you unconditionally surrender, you turn over all your weapons and blow up all your tunnels and only then will we agree to a ceasefire.
Yes. There it is. Plan A. Hold the line. Reduce the situation to its implicit simplicity.
I think it important to note how many have died as a direct consequence of the Shalit deal since 2011: killed prior to Oct 7 by one of the 1027 released terrorists, as well as on Oct 7 which was masterminded by Sinwar, who was released in that disastrous exchange, after his life was saved by an Israeli doctor.
Unfortunately, ignorant people quote “pikuach nefesh” with respect to freeing hostages without understanding that there is no precedent in Halacha (which dealt with monetary bribes) for the Sophie’s choice Israel is presented with, when forced into such “deals” in which one life is saved now but many lost later. It is an absolute certainty that people will die in the future in order to secure the release of the few remaining live hostages now, the only question is will the number be in the hundreds or thousands.
Also, we all know “international guarantees“ are not worth the paper they are printed on. So that point is a nonstarter.
If Israel is going to negotiate with a terrorist entity, allow them to remain in Gaza...and enjoy huge support from the world's NGO's and media, shouldn't Israel at LEAST get back the few remaining living hostage and the murdered ones...at once....not in stages to further agonize the Israeli public and its friends....ALL , NOW.... How is Israel supposed to conduct business as usual with Hamas still the ruling entity? Shall Israel be further humiliated and reprimanded by the likes of Pope Francis and Albanese and Ken Loach...and be made to pay Reparations for rebuilding Gaza? Are we that craven a people? Because that will surely be what the international community minus the Biden administration ...demands of Israel. I'm very distressed about what happens for Israel next. So many enemies from CBS to BBC to Guardian to UN to.....it's never ending.....they really want the Jews dead. At least the Jewish national renaissance dead. Save the hostages...ALL of them including dead ones ...in one hand over...not drips and drabs. as Israel will surely be forced to release thousands of terrorists to more jubilation and celebration at Cornell, Columbia, Berkeley, Oxford and Cambridge.....and B. Sanders and the squad, too for good measure.
This war has forever cemented the invaluable currency of the Jewish hostage in exchange for the murderous prisoner. In Israel's earliest days, my understanding was they they never negotiated for hostages; a position that signaled to it's enemies that there was no value to that tactic. Now, any time the islamists want any concession from Israel, all they need to do is take one or more hostages -- the more the better. Israel should demand that Hamas unconditionally surrender and that all hostages are released. No prisoners should be released in exchange. My heart goes out to all the impacted family and friends of the hostages, but all a hostage deal does is make vulnerable every Jew, anywhere in the world. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think I am.
Yes!!
I would only support a deal in which all hostages are released at once. Then MAYBE the cost could be justified as at least the demons would no longer have any leverage. The very idea of negotiating with monsters is misguided. Its like negotiating with a shark to not eat you.
The sentiments expressed in this opinion piece is shared by many Israelis and Diasporic Jews. The conjectural nature of policies analyze in this article is revealed in the constant framing issues in terms of might, may, and should.
The enemy learned through past hostage taking episodes that it not only pays but pays big to kidnap Israelis. They learned that world opinion impelled by mainstream media will censure your victims, not you. They learned that world leaders may utter PC bromides, but largely they are indifferent and will take no action against you, not even when their own citizens have been abducted.
Hopefully high level Israeli security and military analysts and government officials as well will have a more realistic and pragmatic assessment of the situation. Past experience will teach them that leaving Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestine Jihad, and companies in place will with absolute certainty lead not just to another Oct 7th, but having learned from the mistakes they made that day, they will be able to launch new and improved Oct 7ths. It is a promise they publicly made on more than one occasion, and when it comes to promises they make about Israel and Jews, their word is gold.
The anguish of the hostage families is palpable and of course entirely understandable. Will "Bring[ing] them home at any cost" be acceptable if Israeli authorities give in to the terrorists' demands and much more Jewish blood runs in the streets? Is this the fulfillment of Pikuach nefesh? Is winning hostage release through military rescue not a better strategy than sacrificing future Jewish lives? As the saying goes, we re between a rock and a hard place. Hard as it is to entertain the thought, survival of the many must be first order of priority.
Those who Pikuach Nefesh as a rationale for a deal are ignorant of the fact that Decisors of Jewish law maintain that Pikuach Nefesh has no application in wartime on a national level and that such exchanges were not conducted during the Covil War or WW1 and WW2 despite the horrific treatment of Allied POWs
A remarkably lyrical discussion using the specifics of known polarities. "... any agreement should include mechanisms to monitor released prisoners and prevent their reintegration into terror networks". I thought that but didn't dare utter it. My imagining is that given that advanced hi-tech is readily available, an infinitely tiny device can be implanted with any variety of options for monitoring, or hampering actions, or imploding on command etc. The stuff of science fiction is already available. Invasive? So what. Or, sew what - sew whatever it takes to never again allow a known terrorist to ever move freely without 100% monitoring control sewn into their body. Any minor infraction, including any attempt to remove the device, could incur the most immediate and ideally the most severe penalty.
I like how you think
I agree with the caveats here in the comments section ahead of my own comment here. Because of your thorough analysis, together with the comments that add other dimensions, I have linked to your article in my latest article on this topic: https://ozsheri.substack.com/p/i-hate-that-we-are-negotiating-with
Great nuanced article which the world should read- not only Jews. But unfortunately the world doesn’t care about Jewish life, hostage or otherwise.
The released prisoners must be constantly monitored from day 1.. I like the idea of tiny embedded chips. Punishment for these low life’s must be implemented as soon as the poster out of line. Plus any hostages who carry life sentences for murder or multiple rapes should be executed in a number at least equal to any dead or missing Israeli hostages.
Oh I love the idea of tiny embedded chips; that could be detonated once all the hostages have been returned.
Or even just one rape.
Solomon may be gone, but the LORD is always there. We need to seek His wisdom. "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Psalm 37.
A very thoughtful essay, Joshua, but this doesn't look like a deal for Israel but one for Hamas. And why, again, is Israel releasing prisoners in exchange for 33 hostages in the first phase? As the Libs say, "where's the moral equivalency?" I've just completed reading about groups of young Palestinians being trained as of now to fight against Israelis. Hamas has rarely, if ever, honored a ceasefire. What makes this time different? And what about the soldiers who have fought bravely and were killed or gravely wounded? Their families are suffering too, and this is not to lessen the absolute nightmare of the hostage's families because they face the unknown about their loved ones. This "deal" was not a win-win for sure. It was to push something through because of the new sheriff in town. Maybe there will be more to come that we are not privy to, and hopefully so. Israel and its people deserve more than this.
It cannot be overlooked that Trump's team is also applying pressure to Israel to make a deal because Trump wants the optics of hostages being released on his inauguration. If a deal is favorable to hamas and bad for Israel, that's on Trump. I don't want to hear any excuses or Trump getting a free pass. There's no way that Bibi after more than a year of defying the Biden regime is going to suddenly cave while they're on their way out the door. There's no doubt in my mind that Trump is behind applying pressure to Israel to get a deal. Both Biden and Trump will take credit at Israel's expense.
I am pretty sure a trump is pressuring Bibi to delay any deal until after his inauguration.
Whether its before or after Trump gets into office, it's a bad deal and should be rejected.
I personally think after Trump gets in, this particular deal won't exist. What I do think is that Trump spoke too soon about getting this done. Bad move on his part. I do agree with you that he would like the optics, but what politician wouldn't? Biden is already taking full credit since this was his admin's plan from the beginning.
"The international communities response" ... hah. We know what that will be. In 5 years no one will remember 10/7 and the ensuing war other then the Jews and her enemies.
No Pros only Cons on this one. It is a catch 22 for Yisrael. If you dare you burn and if you don't dare, you will still burn. It is the current situation since October 7th and will remain until wisdom returns. I stopped crying for you, it's ripping my innards.
There was only one Solomon; but we could surely use him now.
I’m an outsider, with no blood/skin in the game… There are always aspects involved that people are unaware of, and I hope that something in that mix redeems this apparent debacle. But, to your point, the issue often isn’t one of not knowing what to do (needing Solomonic wisdom); it’s more one of being willing to do what one knows is right, or necessary, regardless of whatever loss, pain, or suffering may follow.