HRW to Hamas on Gilad Shalit: J’Accue, a Fair Exchange Rate?………
“Human Rights Watch charged Friday that Hamas militants are violating the rules of war by prohibiting a captive Israeli soldier from having contact with his family and the Red Cross. The treatment of the 23-year-old soldier, captured exactly four years ago by Hamas, is "cruel and inhuman" and matches a U.N. definition of torture because he is denied any outside contact, the U.S.-based rights group said in a statement. Hamas-affiliated militants captured tank crewman Sgt. Gilad Schalit inside Israel in 2006 and have been holding him since then in Gaza, the coastal Palestinian territory controlled by the militant Islamic organization. Negotiations over a deal that would see Israel win Schalit's release by freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including militants convicted of deadly attacks against civilians, have stalled……”
If the fundamentalists of Hamas ever release Shalit, it will as part of a trade-off. It will be as usual in the past: one Israeli soldier in exchange for tens if not hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. At that exchange rate, both Hamas and the Fatah group should be embarrassed, nay ashamed, that so many of their citizens are equal to one lone Israeli soldier. Perhaps they should insist on a lower exchange rate (for Shalit) and a higher exchange rate (for their citizens): insist that they will release Shalit for only one or two Palestinians and no more. And make sure it is no one of a higher rank than Shalit that is exchanged. I dare them!
Cheers
mhg
Mon Email
Comments