Taking a firm stance, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday told US Mideast envoy George Mitchell on his first visit in his new capacity that Israel is tying the opening of Gaza crossings to Hamas’ release of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Olmert, in his last days in office, is taking a firm stand, seeking to fulfill his promise to bring Shalit home before leaving office. He told Mitchell that while Israel will permit humanitarian aid to continue flowing into Gaza, the crossings will remain shut until Hamas releases Shalit, who is being held since June 2006.
Mitchell’s statements contained the standard rhetoric, pledging continued American support for Israel and assurances that Israel’s security remains high on the agenda of the new Obama administration.
He also reaffirmed America’s support for a two-state solution, namely, the establishment of a State of Palestine.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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4 Responses
Ein podin es hashvuyim yeser al kdei demeihen. If security demands that they remain closed, then aren’t we giving away too much by putting the tzibur in sakana to save one individual? And if security doesn’t demand that they remain closed, why have they been closed all this time, which antagonizes the entire world for no real purpose? I personally suspect it is the first, and Olmert doesn’t care about the reduction in security, as long has he can score a big coup (Shalit’s release) before he leaves office.
#1
A valid point. Perhaps, his intention is one of two possibilities: Either he realizes they will not realistically give back Shalit just like that, and this therefore gives him an excuse to keep the crossings closed indefinately and silence international critics, especially as it is recognized all over the world that there really is no valid reason for holding a kidnapped soldier and it is unequivically a breach of international law; or alternatively, he hopes this will bring Shalit back home, and he will keep his promise to open the crossings, and at the first breach of security that might follow as a result he’ll close them again, arguing that Hamas has abused the gesture to perpetrate terrorist attacks. Once Shalit is safe at home, the world can protest the ‘blockade’ as loud as it wishes…
#2 “Common sense”, you are totally out of touch with reality. Do you really think that keeping the border closed if they don’t release Shalit will “silence international critics, especially as it is recognized all over the world that there really is no valid reason for holding a kidnapped soldier and it is unequivocally a breach of international law”.
These critics are anti-Semites who will complain whatever the case.
#3 – Whatanonov
True, but it does nevertheless deflect some of the criticism, pointing the finger at Hamas to make the next move. Due to the enormous pressure on Israel to open the crossings, an argument like Olmert’s will certainly cause the spotlight to be shifted to the hitherto ignored issue of Shalit’s captivity. It is remarkable that his plight hasn’t made it to the international media in recent weeks, and I do think that the latest move will generate significant international awareness on the matter. So you’re right – it won’t ‘silence’ them, but it will definately give them pause for thought, and if Olmert holds his ground, and stands firm in his decision to open the crossing only following the release, it will force them to tone down their demand, and look into ways at meeting his.