The land of milk and honey

Israel’s latest trade with Hezbollah for the bodies of kidnapped IDF soldiers Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser has left a bitter taste in my mouth. When Hezbollah kidnapped the soldiers in 2006, a month-long war between Israel and the terrorist group in Southern Lebanon was ignited. Now that their bodies have been returned and buried at home, many say the families of these young men have closure. Judaism places the highest value on human life and saving a life, pikuach nefesh. While the IDF wasn’t able to save Regev and Goldwasser, the Israeli government showed honor and respect by buring them properly. Regev and Goldwasser were brought home to show other soldiers that Israel does not forget about any soldier. Your life is meaningful until the end and should be treated with dignity.

On the other hand, I’ve heard and read some Israelis question the price they just paid for a couple of dead bodies. Samir Kuntar, the Lebanese perpetrator of five despicable murders in Naharia in 1979, was let out of prison and returned to a hero’s welcome in Lebanon. Israel also gave back five Hezbollah terrorists and nearly 200 dead Palestinian and Hezbollah terrorists.

For the overall well being and mood of the country, was this trade a wise one? Now Hezbollah is asking Israel to free hundreds of their terrorists in exchange for one of Hezbollah’s remaining chips, kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who is believed to still be alive. This trade was neither good nor bad; it was sheer madness. It has nothing to do with ending terrorism or building peace in the region. Totally undeserved, Hezbollah comes out looking like the clear winner. Israel should develop a policy on how to deal with kidnapped soldiers. How much is too much? How much does it value burying its sons and daughters in eretz yisrael?  There are no easy answers. The whole situation is troubling and deeply depressing.