Captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit has become a top card – not in negotiations for his release, but in the electoral war between Kadima leader Tzipi Livni and Labor leader Ehud Barak.
Foreign Minister Livni, in a moment of candor last week, told a group of high school students that “not every soldier can be brought back.”
“The feeling is that it’s possible to bring Gilad back, but that we’re doing nothing," Livni lamented. "That is a terrible thought. We want every soldier to come back. But when a soldier goes to the army, there is a risk. We all want everyone to come home, but this is part of the willingness to fight in war. We have no other choice.”
Protest Outside Livni's Home
Livni was immediately attacked on various fronts, including from Defense Minister Barak and the Task Force to Bring Gilad Home. The latter, which holds a weekly protest outside the home of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, held its demonstration this past Friday outside Livni’s home, in protest of her remarks.
Hamas Response
Hamas announced, “Livni’s words prove that Israel is the one who is sabotaging the negotiations for Shalit’s release.” Hamas is demanding the release of 1,000 imprisoned terrorists, including many murderers, in exchange for Shalit.
Hamas threatened that the prisoners have the right to be free, “and as long as Israel does not agree, the Shalit case will remain closed.”
Barak Attacks - and Agrees
Barak, whose Labor party is vying for many of the same voters as Livni’s Kadima in the upcoming elections, said over the weekend, “I cannot understand those words by the Foreign Minister.” However, the former IDF General and Chief of Staff essentially echoed what she said when he explained, “I buried many soldiers who were killed and did not return. A soldier who is alive in captivity, we have a supreme responsibility to bring him back using every worthy method – but not at any price.”
Barak then added, “As opposed to what is implied by Livni’s remarks, this government has a special responsibility to return Gilad Shalit before its term ends, because he was taken captive under its watch.”
Barak implied, however, that he would be willing to release even Hamas terrorist murderers in exchange for Shalit.
Livni’s spokesmen said in response, “Out of a sense of responsibility for Shalit’s release, she refuses to bring the matter into the political arena.”
Yaalon Agrees, Too
Moshe Yaalon, another former IDF Chief of Staff, agreed with Livni. “It is not a good idea to call for Shalit’s release at any price," said Yaalon, who is running in the Likud party for a Knesset seat. "We have put ourselves into a corner where the terrorists know it’s a good idea to kidnap our soldiers.”
Shalit is on the agenda in Egypt today, where senior Defense Ministry official Gilad Shalit is meeting with Egyptian officials. Even former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is discussing the matter in Syria, though Israel does not have much confidence that Carter will present Israel’s case particularly favorably.