No more exchanges like this one

Robert O. Freedman, MESH , July 25, 2008 The recent exchange of five Arab terrorists for the bodies of two Israeli soldiers abducted by Hezbollah at the start of the 2006 war was a major defeat for Israel, one that must not be repeated. While one can understand the anguish felt by the families of the captured Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwassser and Eldad Regev, the manner in which the exchange was negotiated and then carried out could only be described as a debacle. Indeed, one wonders if the exchange was carried out by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in yet another attempt to curry public favor as he faces mounting public pressure to step down as prime minister. The first mistake was not ascertaining, in advance, whether the two Israeli soldiers were alive or dead. Israel did have leverage with Hezbollah on this issue.... [read full story]