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Disposable war fodder

Reader comment on item: Thoughts on the Release of 104 Palestinian Murderers

Submitted by B. Kramer (United States), Jul 27, 2013 at 22:30

Back in 2008, Hamas turned down an Isreali offer to release 350 prisoners for Gilad Schalit, thereby publicly devaluing the life of a Palestinian to 1/4 of a percent of an Israeli's. By eventually accepting 1,027 prisoners as the minimum for the exchange, they in effect devalued their brother Palestinians to 1/10 of a percent, or practically nothing. They would rather have 1,000 Palestinians live in jail. Their lives are merely cheap and disposable war fodder.

Yet by Israel submitting to such a deal, Israel likewise proclaims that an Israeli is so valuable, that capturing one will become every terrorist's goal. It puts all soldiers and citizens at greater risk, giving terrorists an incentive. Such deals, whether giving land, money, or war prisoners, has never been accepted as a goodwill gesture by anyone besides our presidents, whose only aim was to get publicity and votes.

Arabs, however, see it as an act of submission and weakness by Israel. It's equivalent to Israel feeding sharks or bears, hoping to domesticate them. While it plays well on TV or wins political points today, it's just a band-aid covering a problem that can only get worse. There's no logic to it, only emotion.

Submitting....

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Daniel Pipes replies:

Your logic is correct but, as you acknowledge, this is not how the trade is perceived.

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Reader comments (25) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Can't Israel Just Say No!? [66 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
AlexDec 27, 2013 15:56212332
5The problem for a start. [1159 words]Martin HoranSep 12, 2013 06:10209663
2Christian Zionism [137 words]Charles WilliamsJul 15, 2014 21:12209663
Israel loves life . .. .so much ! [23 words]Phil GreendAug 8, 2013 22:04208887
the aging terrorist, wheelchair-jihad [164 words]mythJul 31, 2013 06:58208672
4I would've preferred to freeze settlements [95 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Andrés RosendoJul 31, 2013 02:16208661
1Freedom fighters tag for terrorists [122 words]Irma RochlinJul 29, 2013 12:49208605
1an interesting contradiction: Freedom fighter tag for terrorists [90 words]PrashantAug 1, 2013 03:48208605
1So crazy it makes you wonder... [49 words]Dan SimonJul 29, 2013 11:20208602
Beyond "lunacy." [139 words]Shoshannah SomervilleJul 28, 2013 16:45208592
Thoughts on thoughts on the release of Palestinian prisoners [151 words]Stephen E. ConnorJul 28, 2013 14:05208588
1On Second thoughts... [66 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Michael Hanni MorcosJul 28, 2013 12:54208587
I just don't see it that way [134 words]Josef zuaresJul 31, 2013 15:38208587
1It's a fine line Joe [90 words]Michael Hanni MorcosJul 31, 2013 22:57208587
At least they aee releasing them for non kidnapped israelis [38 words]ElyAug 3, 2013 14:12208587
2The request is the result [39 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
macdaddy31Jul 28, 2013 11:08208584
Prisoners Release [42 words]Rahamim AkeribJul 28, 2013 10:32208583
prisoner exchange [12 words]RichardJul 28, 2013 00:05208568
2Disposable war fodder [200 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
B. KramerJul 27, 2013 22:30208565
3Enough of the lunacy Israel! [367 words]NuritGJul 27, 2013 21:21208562
What price glory? [163 words]Rebecca Ellen MouldsJul 27, 2013 21:13208561
1Wrong Message to Muslims [99 words]DaveJul 27, 2013 20:57208560
1A marked advantage [89 words]Doug MayfieldJul 27, 2013 20:29208559
2That old adage applies [13 words]EdwardJul 29, 2013 06:48208559
1Besides the economics ;Bibbi is not revealling All --Bibbi went Coucou. [50 words]Michael Hanni MorcosJul 27, 2013 19:35208557

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