New Math: 1027 = 1

There has been quite an uproar around the world surrounding the trade of over one thousand Muslim terrorists for the return of Gilad Shalit. In case you aren't familiar, Gilad Shalit was a 19 year old Corporal (now Staff Sgt.) in the Israeli Army (I.D.F.) when he was kidnapped by Hamas over five years ago -- conveniently, only five months after Hamas, a terrorist organization, was democratically voted into government by the "Palestinian" people. 


In case you're wondering why I put quotation marks around "Palestinian," it is because they are Muslim Arabs, NOT Palestinians. True Palestinians were Jews that lived in the area during the British Mandate. But the Arabs have manipulated history and the world has been brainwashed by them. It's not just me making this claim. It's the Arab leaders themselves:

"The Palestinian people does not exist. The creation of a Palestinian state is only a means for continuing our struggle against the state of Israel for our Arab unity. In reality today there is no difference between Jordanians, Palestinians, Syrians and Lebanese. Only for political and tactical reasons do we speak today about the existence of a Palestinian people, since Arab national interests demand that we posit the existence of a distinct 'Palestinian people' to oppose Zionism." -- PLO executive committee member Zahir Muhsein, 1977

"Hamas will never recognize the existence of a Jewish State in the region" -Mahmoud al Zahar, Senior Hamas member

These monsters stuck Shalit in a dungeon and refused to allow any international agency, not even the International Red Cross, to visit or make sure he was healthy. Just recently (last Tuesday), Binyamin Netanyahu and the Israeli government agreed to release 1,027 murderers from prison to get Shalit returned to his family (half now, half in December 2011). 


In response, Hamas declared Tuesday a national holiday and called for three days of rejoicing. Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal hailed the deal as a victory for the Palestinian people.


These terrorists to be released have been convicted, and have admitted happily, that they have murdered and spilled the blood of Israelis for no other reason than that they are Jews living in the State of Israel. 


Before I begin, let me say that I am eternally grateful that Gilad Shalit is home. The Israeli people has a particular affinity for life, its soldiers and citizens. We will do anything to make sure we can ensure their safety and health, but sometimes we act beyond the realm of logic and wisdom. Personally, I am torn about this subject. It pains me that Shalit was ripped from his family and country, that he had to spend 25% of his life in the hands of terrorists, clearly underfed and not taken care of, but there has been so much Israeli blood spilled by these 1,027 terrorists, and I guarantee... there will be more Israelis who are murdered because of the release of these prisoners. This is not right, and can only lead to more kidnappings, trades, and terror in an endless cycle of violence perpetuated by the Muslims.


Further, there are military, moral, and religious dilemmas associated with this trade (or any similar trade that has taken place in the past). Dealing with the religious and moral aspects is an entirely different article, so let's focus on the military/strategic issues.

"The mass release [of prisoners] has given a boost to Hamas, whose leaders have given their troops order to capture more Israeli soldiers. The goal is to win the release of even more Palestinian prisoners in Israel who then could rejoin the fight to battle Israel until a Palestinian state is created or until Israel is destroyed." -TheSpectrum.com

I've spoken to several Americans about this trade, and they are flabbergasted. They asked me, "who is this soldier?"... implying he was someone special. He was, but wasn't. The key is that he was no one special, but he was everyone; anyone's son, brother, cousin. We are all family in Israel. Every Jew is special. Israel loves its people, but that's the point. Hamas knows this, and does not hesitate to act in as evil a manner as possible. They do not value their own people's lives, and certainly not a Jewish one. If they can manage to get a thousand of their murderers released for one boy, then why wouldn't they do it again and again? They wouldn't.


Israel has officially set a precedent. The government has now officially told Hamas that it is acceptable to kidnap soldiers (or anyone, really) in order to get convicted murderers free. Hamas is destructive enough - why did we need to provide them with further incentives?


Please also be aware that prior to this trade, Israel had already released twenty Arab prisoners for a videotape of Shalit. Yes, you heard me... a videotape. Again, I will reiterate that I am grateful that Shalit is home, but what of the innocents whose lives have all now been marked for death at the hands of the released terrorists? This doesn't count all the trades in the past that have already taken place that led up to this point. I speak of the future, that is already being written by Hamas, its terrorist soldiers, and the Israeli government who participated in the negotiation for this very bloody result.


One of the terrorists scheduled to be released is Ahlam Tamimi, a 31 year old woman who assisted in the logistical planning of the infamous Sbarro terrorist attack that killed 16 Israelis, and who drove the bomber to the restaurant in August 2001. She was sentenced to 16 life terms in prison, and was quoted as saying, "I’m not sorry for what I did. I will get out of prison and I refuse to recognize Israel’s existence. Discussions will only take place after Israel recognizes that this is Islamic land."

The remainder of the terrorists who will be released in exchange for Shalit can be found here (may their names be blotted out from the history books).

They include Salehi, Abd al-Aziz Yussuf Mustafa of Ramallah, a participant in the 2000 Ramallah lynching who was iconically photographed displaying his blood-stained hands to the Palestinian mob after having beaten to death an IDF reservist who had accidentally entered the Palestinian Authority-controlled city of Ramallah.

And Ghanim, Abd al-Hadi Rafa of Gaza, the surviving perpetrator of the Tel Aviv Jerusalem bus 405 suicide attack in which Ghneim seized the steering wheel of a crowded Egged commuter bus line No. 405 and managed to pull the bus into a ravine in the area of Qiryat Ye'arim causing the bus to be caught on fire while passengers whom could not get off the bus were burned alive. (16 killed, 27 injured).

And Amrin, Fuad Muhammad Abdulhadi of Gaza, who fatally stabbed 15-year-old schoolgirl Helena Rapp on her way to school in the Israeli city of Bat Yam.

My personal "favorite," Badran, Husam Atif All of Nablus, the former head of Hamas' military wing in the West Bank, who orchestrated the the 2001 Dolphinarium discotheque suicide bombing, 2001 Sbarro restaurant suicide bombing (15 killed, more than 100 injured) and in the 2002 Passover massacre.

Let's not forget Bahit, Ismail Musa Hussein of Gaza, a Popular Resistance Committee member who killed six Palestinians he believed to be collaborating with Israel. Attempted to kill four others. Killed one Israeli civilian in a terrorist attack. He killed his own people, who were trying to truly end terrorism and bring peace to the region.

We'll end on a "high" note, with Walid Abd al-Aziz Abd al-Hadi Anajas of Ramallah, who took part in the execution of the Café Moment bombing in 2002 (11 killed, 54 wounded - 11 of them seriously), the Hebrew University bombing in 2002 (9 killed, more than 100 injured) and the Rishon LeZion bombing in 2002 (16 killed, more than 60 injured - 20 of them seriously). Originally sentenced to 26 consecutive life sentences, changed to 36 life sentences.

I could keep listing all the terrorists and murderers who have already been released (and who will be released in December), but it would take pages. Take the time and review their bloody records yourself.... You'll feel like I do. The more I research and investigate this trade, the sicker I feel.


The sad part is that the Muslims are right.

“We have discovered how to hit the Jews where they are the most vulnerable. The Jews love life, so that is what we shall take away from them. We are going to win, because they love life and we love death.” -Hizbullah's Nasrullah, 2004 (after a prisoner exchange)

Journalist Richard Landes understands. Not only does Israel have a love and respect for the life of their citizens, but they have it in general. Israel outlawed the death penalty in 1954, only 6 years after the country was born. Landes points out that,

"Palestine, on the other hand, represents almost the polar opposite. This is a place in which killing daughters and wives and homosexuals for shaming the family with (even suspected and loosely interpreted) inappropriate sexual behavior is a regular feature of society, where “collaborators” are summarily executed, where official statistics for executions put the PA [Palestinian Authority] at a rate of formal, legal execution that cedes only to China, Iran, N Korea, Yemen and Libya."

Another journalist, Jonathan S. Tobin, makes a succinct point: "Rather than ask why Israel is willing to trade so many terrorists for one soldier, the world should be asking why the Palestinians are cheering the release of sociopaths." An interesting question.


In the past, Israel never used to negotiate with terrorists. That was their policy, and I remember that policy from when I was growing up. It's a difficult road to follow, but it is the correct one. Once you negotiate with the terrorists and attempt to appease them, you have already lost. You have put your citizens in further danger, and condoned the behavior of the enemy. 


The author of Lindasog.com had a brilliant solution: "I would take the list of prisoners the palestinians want released, and I would execute one a day, until Gilad Shalit is released, or I run out of prisoners. That way, the end result is a good one, either way." 


I agree. 


If the Muslims only understand power and death, then we must speak to them in their own language in order for them to understand we mean business. We will not give in to murderers and terrorists. We will not accept their terms for "peace." We are the Jewish people and we will live in our own country without fear! 


But first... we have to believe that.


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Additional sources for information & debate:
The Shalit Dilemma
Right Truth
Respect for Life, by Richard Landes

Op-Ed: Shalit, Israel and Rabbinic Debate
Palestinians Celebrate Murder


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In memory of all the Israelis that have been murdered in cold blood, please take a moment and review all their names - found HERE and HERE.


Please help support the victims' families by donating to OneFamilyFund - click on this link to help.