Speaking to Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Sunday morning, Moshe Ya’alon, now number seven on the Likud list and a former IDF chief of staff, told Razi Barkai that he is in agreement with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni’s statement that despite the government’s desire to do so, it cannot always bring every soldier home. The senior minister’s remarks created a storm among those working to obtain the release of Gilad Shalit.

Ya’alon stated that there is no doubt that every parent who sends their son to the army expects him to come home, and if chas v’sholom he is taken prisoner, he expects the government to do everything possible to ensure his return.

Knowing this, one must still state the simple yet painful truth, that the government cannot bring every soldier home at any price – explaining this is simply not a realistic expectation.

Responding was Mrs. Miki Goldwasser, whose son Ehud’s body and soldier Eldad Regev’s body were returned to Israel in a prisoner exchange this year, one that was very costly for Israel. She was extremely critical of Ya’alon, blaming the lack of IDF deterrence for creating a situation that permits the abduction of soldiers.

In addition, Goldwasser stated that following the kidnapping of Shalit, nothing was done for weeks, referring to diplomatic efforts, stating at that time, the price for obtaining Gilad’s release would have been significantly lower than today.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)