One Israeli Soldier Impacts the Arab World

One Israeli Soldier Impacts the Arab World

In June 2006 the Palestinian organization, Hamas, abducted Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier. Shalit was held in captivity inside the Gaza Strip for more than five years. During this period of time the Israeli government and Hamas held long and complex negotiations regarding the terms for Shalit’s release.

Throughout Gilad’s captivity, an intense ongoing campaign for his release was waged inside Israel and across the world. The campaign put pressure on the Israeli government to pay a high price, if needed, to bring Gilad Shalit back home. That demand reflects one of the most profound values of Israeli society – Israel’s moral obligation and responsibility to do whatever it may take to bring back home abducted or missing Israeli soldiers.

The campaign generated a painful and tense debate within Israeli society surrounding the question of what price should Israel pay to bring home soldiers who were sent on a mission on behalf of the State of Israel and in the course of that mission were taken into captivity.

On October 18, 2011 Gilad Shalit was released. In exchange, Israel released 1,027 Palestinian imprisoned in Israel for terror activities. Many of them were involved in the murder of Israelis and sentenced to life in prison.

In an article I published on October 30, 2011 entitled ” Israel – Hamas Prisoner Swap Deal: Arab Perspectives”  I included the following phrase: “many Arabs express feelings of admiration for Israel because of its commitment to bring its soldiers back home and the willingness of Israeli citizens to pay a painful price to achieve that goal”.

On May 16, 2013 seven Egyptian soldiers and police officers were abducted in the Sinai Peninsula. Apparently the kidnappers belong to one of the militant Islamic groups operating in Sinai. The kidnappers are demanding the release of their militants imprisoned in an Egyptian jail including a senior militant who was sentenced to death by an Egyptian court for his involvement in lethal terror attacks on tourist resorts in Sinai.

A video released by the kidnappers on May 20 introduces the abducted Egyptian soldiers, sitting with their eyes covered and their hands on their heads. After each of the kidnapped introduce themselves, the abducted soldiers’ spokesman appeals to the President and the Minister of Defense of Egypt, urging them to spare no effort and to pay any price needed for their release.  He pleads with the Egyptian government to act like Israel did in the case of Gilad Shalit, and pay whatever price is necessary to secure their release. Specifically he says: The way Gilad Shalit was very dear for the Israeli government, who released a thousand Palestinian prisoners just to bring one Israeli soldier back home – and we are seven Egyptian soldiers – we expect to be as dear to you as well.”

This appeal reflects the unique and meaningful impact of the story of Gilad Shalit – one Israeli soldier – on the entire Arab world.

If you want to have a better understanding of the news and what really drives the unfolding events…
Read the latest book of Avi Melamed,
INSIDE THE MIDDLE EAST | ENTERING A NEW ERA, available now >>>

Follow me on Twitter @AviMelamed; Facebook @InsideTheMiddleEast; for more Videos on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/AviMelamed

I can always be reached at Avi@AviMelamed.com

Avi Melamed
Avi Melamedhttps://insidethemiddle-east.com
Avi Melamed is an expert on current affairs in the Arab & Muslim World and their impact on Israel & the Middle East. A former Israeli Intelligence Official & Senior Official on Arab Affairs, Fluent in Arabic, English, and Hebrew, he has held high-risk Government, Senior Advisory, Intelligence & Counter-Terrorist intelligence positions in Arab cities & communities - often in very sensitive times - on behalf of Israeli Government agencies. He is the Founder & CEO of Inside the Middle East | Intelligence Perspectives - an apolitical non-partisan curriculum using intelligence methodology to examine the Middle East. As an Author, Educator, Expert, and Strategic Intelligence Analyst, Avi provides Intelligence Analysis, Briefings, and Geopolitical Tours to diplomats, Israeli and foreign policymakers, global media outlets, and a wide variety of international businesses, organizations, and private clients on a range of Israel and Middle East Affairs.

JOIN THE HUB Newsletter

spot_imgspot_img

BUY THE BOOK

spot_imgspot_img

MORE FROM ITME

Morocco & Israel celebrate two years of normalized relations Pt2

Morocco and Israel celebrate two years of normalized relations by Steve Postal Find Avi Melamed's commentary on the Morocco & Israel two years of normalized...

Har Ha Bayit

Har Ha Bayit The Temple Mt. Compound is known in Hebrew as Har Ha Bayit (The Mountain of the Temple). Har Ha Bayit is the most sacred place...

People of the Pod – Solving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict – A New Perspective

Click Here to Hear the Podcast @ People of the Pod | www.ajc.org When it comes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the pathway to peace has...

The Uprising In Iran | A Struggle Over Identity – This Is Why

The Uprising in Iran is a Struggle Over Identity | This is Why, Originally published in USA Today | November 30, 2022, as well...

Lebanon: The Gangland State

Lebanon: The Gangland State As published in The Algemeiner on February 7, 2019 General elections were held in Lebanon in May 2018. Why did it take...