Peter Worthington is spot on in his column on Israel's response to the Islamic terrorists in Gaza kidnapping Cpl. Gilad Shalit and their continued firing of Kassams rockets into Israel when he noted:
Most people who aren't Israelis or who haven't endured state oppression would likely argue that peace is more important than the life of one person. They are wrong.It's always good to find a nation like Israel that is willing to face a danger no matter what others might think or say about them. This is one of the main reasons why I like Israel so much.
Back around 1900, many Americans disagreed with then-President Teddy Roosevelt sending the Marines to Morocco and threatening war unless a tribal Rif chieftain, Raisuli, freed Ion Perdicaris, a U.S. businessman he was holding for ransom.
Raisuli, no fool, promptly capitulated, thus ensuring the safety of U.S. citizens everywhere.
When an Air France Boeing 707 was hijacked by the PLO to Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976 and all non-Israeli passengers were freed (the pilot and crew gallantly stayed with their Israeli hostages), Israel staged a daring to free the captives.
Many thought such a raid foolhardy, if not suicidal. But it succeeded, thus ensuring that future hijackings aimed at Israel would fail.
Pacifists in 1939 argued that Britain should not go to war over Nazi Germany's invasion of Poland, yet Britain did so, because after failing to oppose the seizure of Czechoslovakia and Rhineland, it felt it had no choice.
It's similar with Cpl. Shalit. Israel, really, has no choice. If it abdicates on decisive action, or if harassing air strikes don't persuade his captors to release Shalit, or if he is killed, Israel is justified in stern reaction that will give pause to future incidents.
Israel has the potential to obliterate Gaza, now under the control of Hamas, which has a tenuous arrangement with its rival, Fatah -- sort of good cop/bad cop, with Hamas' militancy supposedly balanced by Fatah's willingness to negotiate.
The trouble is, Palestinians may feel they cannot release Shalit without losing face. And Israel may feel the same, if bombings and surgical strikes don't work.
The stakes are higher for Israel. If it loses this one, and if Cpl. Shalit is killed without maximum Israeli response, then it will happen again. Israel must make the kidnappers and those who support them pay a horrible price.
Military action can be more decisive than endless negotiations which go nowhere. In this case, one citizen symbolizes all Israelis.
***Also, check out this wonderful piece in the Jerusalem Post by Lauren Gelfond Feldinger on the daring raid on Entebbe.
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