The CARMEL ALERT October 28th 2011

David's Comment: A Great Day for the Shalit Family but also  A Great Day for Terrorism

Records were broken as 70% of the Israeli population spent most of last Tuesday glued to their TV screens, watching the minute by minute progress of the prisoner exchange and to catch the first glimpse of Gilad Shalit as he was set free after 5 years and 4 months of captivity by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Of course by mid-morning we were all rejoicing with the family and friends of Gilad as he crossed back into Israel, saluted IDF officers and hugged his father and PM Netanyahu. We all rejoiced again at about 5 pm as two Air Force helicopters flew Gilad to his home in a northern Galilee village.  Finally this kidnapped son of Israel was safe and sound with his family, enjoying the food and festivities of the last few days of the Feast of Tabernacles, and sleeping in his own bed after 1941 nights of sleeping in a cold dark dungeon in Gaza.  I think I can speak for 99% of Israeli families in that we all felt for Gilad as if he was our own son, grandson, or brother.

However that does not mean that we all agreed with the very high price that Israel was forced to pay to get Gilad back.  A total of 1027 prisoners are to be released from Israeli prisons, many of them cold blooded terrorists with the blood of numerous innocent Israeli men, women and children, even babies, on their hands.  What ever happened to the Western world's long proclaimed principal of not negotiating with terrorists ?  The main reason for that stand being that giving in to the demands of terrorists only serves to encourage them to strike again. Also, releasing terrorists from prison endangers the lives of other innocent people in the future.  Following the previous Israeli prisoner release several years ago, of the 400  terrorists released more than 35% carried out more terror attacks that claimed the lives of 180 and injured hundreds more.

Hamas and other terror groups are already claiming a major victory over Israel.   Of far greater concern is that many of those released have already sworn to return to terror in the hope of killing more innocent people.  The following is a quote from Israel Today Magazine  ..........   Wafa al-Bis got a new lease on life last week when she was one of the 1,027 terrorists freed by Israel.  But unlike more reasonable people given a second chance, Bis said she intends to again try her hand at being a suicide bomber.  Bis was arrested in 2005 when soldiers at a border crossing between Gaza and southern Israel found a 22-pound bomb sowed into her underwear. Bis had intended to use a permit for medical treatment in Israel to gain entry and blow up the hospital. Instead, she tried to kill the soldiers who stopped her, but the bomb's detonator malfunctioned.   After six years in jail, and despite being freed by Israel, she has no regrets and will try to kill again.   "As long as there is going to be occupation over all of Palestine [i.e. a Palestinian state in just Judea, Samaria and Gaza won't be enough], martyrs will be there to resist and to fight, and I will be among the first of the strugglers," Bis told London's Daily Telegraph. "This is an honourable thing and I would be a suicide bomber three times over if I could."  Sickeningly, Bis' mother told the newspaper that what her daughter aspires to "is an honorable thing and I am proud of her."    Bis is not alone. Many more of the terrorists released in the Shalit deal have vowed to return to terrorism. In fact, unlike in previous exchanges, it appeared that Israel didn't even bother having the prisoners sign agreements to not return to terrorist activity, knowing full well that they would do so anyway.   Another former prisoner who intends to once again target innocent Jews is Ahlam Tamimi.  In 2001, Tamimi acted as the driver for a suicide bomber who blew up the Sbarro pizzeria in downtown Jerusalem, which killed 16 people and wounded another 130. Among those killed were seven children, and five members of one family.   Tamimi was sent to neighboring Jordan as part of the terms of her release. In an interview with AmmonNews at the weekend she said, "I have never regretted what I have done, and if given another chance I'll do it again."

Understanding the reality of the situation an organisation of IDF reserve group called "My Israel" is calling on soldiers to sign a petition not to participate in future terrorist swaps that would free murderers with blood on their hands.  Their move comes following the prisoner exchange deal for Gilad Shalit. The petition, urges the government not to ever agree to a prisoner swap that frees terrorists with blood on their hands. Signatories on the petition agree not to participate in such a swap if they are ever, God forbid, captured or kidnapped in future action.  "We demand [the government] not release murderers, also at the price of our own personal lives," clarified the reservists.  My Israel chairperson Ayelet Shaked and David Tzviel, who initiated the petition, said the campaign is intended to facilitate the efforts of decision makers who might in future be faced with the need to negotiate for the release of Israeli soldiers in captivity.   "When soldiers and reservists say they are ready to bear on their shoulders the burden of [defending the nation], even the terrible suffering [if] captured by the enemy, to save Israel from the terrible danger posed to the country due to the release of terrorists -- the State of Israel can't avoid expressing a firm, resolute and clear stance against the terrorist organizations in this matter," said the two.

The only positive aspects of this prisoner exchange are that  1/   Gilad is home   2/  that the world can see that Israel values the life of its soldiers to the value of 1027 to 1   and 3/  that all Israeli soldiers can also see that their country esteems them so highly. 

Only time will tell the real cost of bringing Gilad home.  We need to pray that if any of the released murderers plan to kill again, that their wicked plans will be exposed and that they will be prevented from ever harming another innocent person -  what ever that takes.  Please keep Gilad in your prayers

The Lord bless you as you bless Israel by standing in defense of her right to exist on the land given to the Jewish people by the God of Israel.  Lets pray that Israel will turn back to their God.  Do not be silent, but share this with your fellow Christians, share it with your pastors, and with anyone you have a chance to speak to.   Lets also pray for that breakthrough to the Muslims,  and please remember to pray for all of the soldiers in the IDF -they are defending and fighting for the Kingdom of God.

Shabbat Shalom .... David & Josie