Jerusalem - Israel: Want to End the Gaza Blockade? Grant Shalit his Rights |
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News Source: Arutz 7
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File May 22 A vessele carry signs calling for the release of Israeli captures soldier Gilad Shalit.Jerusalem - If Hamas truly wants to end the blockade on Gaza, there is an easy way to do so - allow the Red Cross to visit kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, says Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Granting visits to Shalit, as required by international law, is “the minimal condition for lifting the blockade,” he said.
“As long as this condition is not fulfilled, there is no reason to change the situation,” Lieberman declared.
Shalit was kidnapped in 2006 while on patrol outside Gaza, and has been held incommunicado by Hamas ever since. The terrorist group is demanding the release of more than one thousand terrorists held in Israeli prisons, including mass murderers, in exchange for the young soldier’s freedom.
Israel put a blockade on Gaza following the kidnapping and Hamas’ rise to power, while Egypt closed its border once Hamas seized control in 2007 and only opened it this week. Humanitarian goods are allowed into Gaza from Israel on an ongoing basis.
The flotilla organizers refused Shalit’s father’s request to bring him a letter.
Hamas rejected Lieberman’s suggestion, and said Shalit will not be freed without the release of terrorists.
United States President Barack Obama called earlier in the week to loosen the blockade on Gaza. Obama called for a “new conceptual framework” in order to keep weapons out of Gaza, but improve life for residents of the area.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas demanded that Israel “lift the siege of the Palestinian people” by allowing goods to pass freely through all Israeli crossings to Gaza. Abbas also called to allow in dual-purpose materials such as concrete and pipes, which Hamas says are necessary for civilian construction but which Israel fears will be used to build bombs and bunkers, as has happened in the past.
Abbas said Thursday, “I fear that the idea of a Palestinian state alongside Israel is being eroded.” The PA chairman’s statement appeared to be a warning that elements in the PA could decide to demand a “one-state solution” in which Israel would become a binational country.
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Read Comments (23) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 11, 2010 at 07:54 AM i dont get it Says:Report as Inappropriate
what???a visit from the red cross? is that it? what about his freedom???aim high, then settle for a bit lower
2
Jun 11, 2010 at 07:59 AM Oy Gevald Says:Report as Inappropriate
Sounds good to me. It's an "educated" response for the intellectual Americans that aren't standing by Israel's side on this issue.
3
Jun 11, 2010 at 08:00 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Visits from the red cross?! Is Hamas expected to up the offer to freedom?
4
Jun 11, 2010 at 08:00 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
I have a better minimum for lifting the blockade. How about stopping sending missiles and trying to destroy it?
If Cuba were sending missiles into Florida, would the U.S. be sitting here begging for Cuba to stop?
5
Jun 11, 2010 at 08:00 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
If the embargo is stragetically necessary, than they should maintain it without using the Shalit issue as a bargaining chip. If the embargo is no longer needed than they shouldn't have engaged the Turkish peace ships and caused such an international furor. Either way, they should keep the two issues separate. Its important to get Shalit home alive if possible but NOT as the expense of allowing rockets to be brought into Gaza that will rain down again on EY>
6
Jun 11, 2010 at 08:05 AM hear nur Says:Report as Inappropriate
Unless I'm missing sing here, the Israeli's have certainly lost their marbles. Couldn't they have asked for his return?
7
Jun 11, 2010 at 08:10 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ what???a visit from the red cross? is that it? what about his freedom???aim high, then settle for a bit lower ”
aim high and don't settle for anything less than shalit's freedom.
8
Jun 11, 2010 at 08:45 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Israel has lost its marbles a long time ago. In the old days, the Arabs knew that if you sent one terrorist operation into the country, killing Jews, you would get back ten-fold.
These days, if you punch Israel in the face, it asks you politely if your next punch can be at the other cheek, since it wants to maintain an even complexion.
The Israel of today not only would never have mounted Entebbe, but it it would have apologized in advance for whoever it was that conceived such an operation.
9
Jun 11, 2010 at 08:51 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Unless I'm missing sing here, the Israeli's have certainly lost their marbles. Couldn't they have asked for his return? ”
They would prefer to keep him in captivity as a bargaining issue; once they have him back there is nothing else to complain about.
10
Jun 11, 2010 at 09:07 AM Yemach Sh'mom Says:Report as Inappropriate
What kind of a fair trade is this that Israel has to give these bastards over one thousand of their cold blooded murdering terrorist thugs in exchange for Gilad Shalit
11
Jun 11, 2010 at 09:15 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Again Lieberman blowing it for us. What in the world is he talking for? Visitation rights? That's what shalit needs? A couple of Arabs from the red cross and he'll be delighted! Silly goose! Stop talking for Israel, you don't accomplished a thing!
12
Jun 11, 2010 at 09:41 AM power up Says:Report as Inappropriate
Sounds to me that israel is looking for the appertuinity to lift the blockade and save some face at the same time because this does not make sense
13
Jun 11, 2010 at 10:34 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Israel asked the people from the flotilla to deliver a letter to shalit and they refused!! Do you think they are going to allow the Int. Red Cross in after so many years???
14
Jun 11, 2010 at 10:38 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Sounds good to me. It's an "educated" response for the intellectual Americans that aren't standing by Israel's side on this issue. ”
educated americans or trhe leftests in the democratic party be they jewish or not the lemmings will follow there orders without thinking
15
Jun 11, 2010 at 10:57 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
This is hilarious: Israel just asks for Hamas to allow the Red Cross to visit Shalit, and rather than allow even one visit, Hamas says 'no.'
I wonder what would have happened if Israel had imposed a REAL blockade as soon as Shalit was kidnapped. No electricity, no fuel, no water, no food, nothing allowed into Gaza. I guess the world would have condemned that as group punishment, but maybe Israel would have won Shalit's return within weeks.
16
Jun 11, 2010 at 11:00 AM The Truth Says:Report as Inappropriate
At long last someone has some sense.
17
Jun 11, 2010 at 11:19 AM shimon Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ what???a visit from the red cross? is that it? what about his freedom???aim high, then settle for a bit lower ”
It might be that Lieberman well knows that visits from the red cross is aiming WAY WAY to high, and that Israel can gain some ground in the diplomatic arena by simply playing the game right, which he is now doing.
18
Jun 11, 2010 at 11:26 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Question, did Obama ever ask for Shalit's release? That is a very important question and a very important demand more so than easing up on the blockade.
19
Jun 11, 2010 at 11:53 AM formally Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I have a better minimum for lifting the blockade. How about stopping sending missiles and trying to destroy it?
If Cuba were sending missiles into Florida, would the U.S. be sitting here begging for Cuba to stop? ”
while I agree with the embargo, one must state the facts, history correctly.
The embargo was implemented right after Hamas won the election by Egypt and Israel to weaken Hamas and the peoples support of Hamas. The missiles came after the embargo started.
The embargo has not weakened hamas neither their popular support. If anything it has strengths their popular support.
If you try something and it does not work after 3 years one must think and revise the plan. It is not a left right issue just common sense
20
Jun 11, 2010 at 12:58 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ while I agree with the embargo, one must state the facts, history correctly.
The embargo was implemented right after Hamas won the election by Egypt and Israel to weaken Hamas and the peoples support of Hamas. The missiles came after the embargo started.
The embargo has not weakened hamas neither their popular support. If anything it has strengths their popular support.
If you try something and it does not work after 3 years one must think and revise the plan. It is not a left right issue just common sense ”
Had Israel blockaded Gaza before Hamas took over then there would not be 7000 rockets to shoot at Israel. But now that Hamas took over Israel had no choice but now blockade Gaza so as not to allow them another 7000 rockets.
21
Jun 11, 2010 at 01:32 PM The Truth - the end is near Says:Report as Inappropriate
The whole world is now shouting at Israel to lift the blocade but the blockade is all a joke. Israel provides Gaza with water, electricity, gas, fuel, food, hospitalization and more but has limited the intake & shut the borders but we dont hear about that, only about the fact that Israel has a blockade on Gaza that does not let (bomb making) materials in.
The Truth?
- HKB"H runs the world & the Moshiach is on his way. If we dont do Teshuva now, we will not be in the 1/3 of the world that will survive the War of Gog Umagog. The smaller picture of what Israel does here or there does not detract from or alter the responsibilities of Am Yisroel to strengthen our emuno & bitachon.
The End is near.
23
Jun 12, 2010 at 10:15 PM Truth Be Told Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ while I agree with the embargo, one must state the facts, history correctly.
The embargo was implemented right after Hamas won the election by Egypt and Israel to weaken Hamas and the peoples support of Hamas. The missiles came after the embargo started.
The embargo has not weakened hamas neither their popular support. If anything it has strengths their popular support.
If you try something and it does not work after 3 years one must think and revise the plan. It is not a left right issue just common sense ”
You must be kidding, are you by any chance related to Helen Thomas.
The correct historical facts are that the Palestinians have been launching rockets and raining missiles and terror on Israeli civilians way before the Hamas terrorist organization got in to power, for at least the last eight years, and from the Gaza Strip (no less from synagogues that Israel has left behind) for the last five years when Israel withdrew from (Gush Katif) and the Gaza Strip in 2005.
Look, if you want to apologize and sympathize with blood thirsty terrorist that's your choice, but at least don't change the historical facts and perpetrate lies.
24
Jun 13, 2010 at 10:38 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
People of Israel, you feel threatened by your neighbors, rockets are flying into your cities, bombs are exploding on your streets, and when terrorists try to break your blockade, the world is on their side blasting you for the your actions to protect yourself. We the 4000 residents of Kiryas Joel; constantly under the terror by Rabbi Ahron Teitelbaum and his followers who are in power of this Village, we understand your feeling. In a time when they use their power to close our synagogues, when they bulldoze our houses, when they attack and arrest our people on our own property, there is nothing we can do other than go out on the streets and protest, but we; just as you, are constantly blamed for the unrest going on in this village, first we are being told that we are the one who are violent, when we manage to get the time to explain ourselves, we are being given a host of good advice, the most popular one being, and maybe you can use it too….MOVE AWAY