Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 13/10 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 28. Juni – 12. Juli 2010 1. Kampagne für Gilad Shalit Vier Jahre nachdem der israelische Soldat Gilad Shalit von militanten Palästinensern in den Gazastreifen entführten wurde, begannen seine Eltern und andere israelische Aktivisten einen zwölftägigen Marsch vom Haus der Familie im Norden Israels nach Jerusalem. Der Marsch, dem sich unterwegs Tausende anschlossen, sollte Medienaufmerksamkeit erregen und den Druck auf die Regierung erhöhen, Verhandlungen um die Freilassung des Soldaten mit der Hamas fortzuführen. Premierminister Benjamin Netanyahu sagte indes, er unterstütze einen Gefangenenaustausch, nicht jedoch„um jeden Preis“. Hochrangige Vertreter der israelischen Armee befürworteten eine Freilassung von palästinensischen Gefangenen hingegen und gaben an, das damit verbundene Sicherheitsrisiko könne von der Armee bewältigt werden. In einer Ansprache in Syrien drohte unterdessen Khaled Meshal, Vorsitzender des Politbüros der Hamas, mit weiteren Entführungen. Change the Shalit equation “After four years of futile negotiations- change is called for.[…] 1) Israel should make Hamas pay for each day it holds Gilad hostage.[…] Henceforth one terrorist would be removed from the proposed list for every day Gilad continues to endure in captivity.[…] 2) There are[…] two things that are far more important to the Hamas leadership than Gilad: The survival of their regime and their personal safety. Israel is fully justified to target the Hamas leadership.[…] 3) On a strategic level, once Gilad is released and with an eye to the future, Israel should ban negotiations with terrorists.” Ophir Falk, JED 08.07.10 The agonizing Shalit debate “Israel has offered far more than would logically be expected to try to secure the release of Schalit – because logic is not the only factor here. But Israel dare not allow itself to suspend debate in this most agonizing of dilemmas, and to give the heart definitive rule over the head. What is needed now, rather, is concerted US and European pressure on Hamas. Sadly, instead of seeking every means to pressure the terrorists holding Schalit, the international community has been pressing Israel to end the blockade against Hamas-controlled Gaza, one of whose goals was to weaken Hamas and create the circumstances for Schalit’s release.” JPO 27.06.10 Editorial Say no to Shalit campaign “It’s clear to all that the release of hundreds of Hamas murderers constitutes a declaration that the State of Israel is giving up on its war against Islamic terror.[…] The prime minister and our national leaders must not capitulate in the face of the Shalit campaign. You are responsible for seven million citizens and not only for the Shalit family. Should you cave in and free the murderers, you will be accountable for the blood of the hundreds and thousands of future terror victims. I urge you to stand up and demonstrate against the Shalit family. Should you not come out to protest so that a different voice is heard – a saner, more responsible voice – the government may capitulate in the face of the family’s campaign.” Hagi Ben-Artzi, JED 29.06.10 And if a thousand prisoners go free? “While we are arguing over the release of the 1,000, or more precisely, the handful who are in contention, while we are being frightened day after day over their release, the question must be asked: What will happen if Israel releases not 1,000 prisoners, but 1