Hamas War

Friday, August 27, 2010

Gilad Shalit's Family, Barking Up The Wrong Tree

This morning the radio was on at the Shiloh Swimming Pool.  Every little while I could hear the announcement by Aviva Shalit, Gilad's mother, reminding us that tomorrow will be Gilad's fifth birthday in captivity.  She then invites us all to protest after Shabbat.  So far, so good, but then she announces that the protest's slogan is that Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu must free Gilad.

Duh!?!  Did I miss something here?  Is Bibi Netanyahu holding Gilad prisoner?  No, well, if that's the case how does she expect the Prime Minister to free her son?

Bibi wasn't even Prime Minister when Gilad Shalit was captured.  There's something very fokokt in the Shalit family's tactics and logic.

Didn't Hamas kidnap Gilad Shalit?  Yes, it did.  So the focus of the demonstrations must be on the agencies, organizations, countries etc that represent Hamas.  There should be a constant vigil against the International Red Cross, European Union and the United Nations for their laxity and hypocrisy in not demanding to visit and assist Gilad Shalit in returning home.

It's obvious that the Shalit family is mixing their own anti-Likud politics in with their personal pain.  They are wasting precious time by fudging the issues here.  They should be working with the government to pressure those who support Hamas to return Gilad home.

23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Without mincing words, I'm fed up with the Shalits' - and the press' - demands that we endanger ourselves to get their son back.

Someone needs to tell them to shut up and get out of our faces already.

Did I mention I'm not mincing words?

Someone also needs to follow the money. They are not running their expensive campaign out of grass routs handouts.

Anonymous said...

I despise the Shalit family for their selfish politicising, shilling for Hamas and attempts to have murderers released from jail.

frog said...

And if it were your son?

Are you aware how many IDF soldiers endanger themselvers to keep you folks out of trouble???

(And some are even hurt by your folks in the first place...)

Batya said...

shy, a, frog, Geula Cohen said it well. "If it was my son, I'd demand the government do everything and at the same time, I'd implore it not to listen to me."

Shy, ok, follow the money!

frog said...

Essentially, I do agree with you, batya: In every case of hostage taking, this dichotomy appears: you should not give in to the blackmail (for fear it would become a "business"), and on the other hand a human life is at stake.

So the dividing line will be: those who are personally involved with the hostage will want to save a life, the further you are away, the more you emphasize the "no blackmail" argument.

So yes, both views are legitimate views, according to where you stand. But saying things like "I despise the Shalit family"? That's definitely out of range in my view.

It's interesting how much you play the "pity" card when it is about your interests and how callous you can be when it is not "one of you"...

Keli Ata said...

It seems the Shalits are playing right into the hands of Hamas.

First Hamas releases that mocking video of the poor boy blaming Israel's PM's for ignoring his case.

Then Noam Shalit goes public saying Bibi is ignoring his son's case.

They're desperate but the five years of stress has taken a terrible toll. So terrrible that they're suffering Stockholm Syndrome by Proxy, identifying with their son's captors.

:) Shy. Don't be shy. Tell us what you really feel lol.

(it's no laughing matter of course. The Shalit's Hamas campaign is putting all Israelis in danger.)

Anonymous said...

Shikse is back! And Shikse is all for "blaming the right guy".

IF YOU GET WHAT I MEAN

Shame on you, Shy and co.
(And, of course on Hamas.)

Don't you have a HEART?????

trn said...

Geula Cohen said it well. "If it was my son, I'd demand the government do everything and at the same time, I'd implore it not to listen to me."

That sums it up nicely.

But why is cooperating with Hamas even being considered? Why can't the Mossad figure out where Gilad Shalit is being held and go in and get him?

Batya said...

frog, when did I used the word "despise?"
Your reading comprension is faulty.

Anonymous said...

Shikse, have you met Frog?

Shikse, are you Canadian?

Anonymous said...

frog said...

Are you aware how many IDF soldiers endanger themselvers to keep you folks out of trouble???

----------------------------------

"You folks"?!

Says a lot.

Now if you'll excuse me, my oldest boy needs my help before he heads off back to his base first thing tomorrow morning.

You stupid jerk.

Anonymous said...

Shikse to Shy:

NO.

And: NO.


Now, REPENT.

frog said...

frog, when did I used the word "despise?"
Your reading comprension is faulty.

I did not say you used the word despise. However, in this same thread, anonymous wrote "I despise the Shalit family for their selfish politicising".

shy guy wrote: "Someone needs to tell them to shut up and get out of our faces already."

I think both comments lack piety and pity.

As far as my reading comprehension is concerned: you are right, my reading comprehension (and my writing skills) is sometimes lacking, since english is not my mother tongue. However, I do not think that this remark was appropriate in this context. (For the reasons I cited above).

I think one should not

Batya said...

frog, your last comment made it to my email but not to my blog, unless it's just delayed.

I want to comment on it, so here it is:
"frog has left a new comment on your post "Gilad Shalit's Family, Barking Up The Wrong Tree":

frog, when did I used the word "despise?"
Your reading comprension is faulty.

I did not say you used the word despise. However, in this same thread, anonymous wrote "I despise the Shalit family for their selfish politicising".

shy guy wrote: "Someone needs to tell them to shut up and get out of our faces already."

I think both comments lack piety and pity.

As far as my reading comprehension is concerned: you are right, my reading comprehension (and my writing skills) is sometimes lacking, since english is not my mother tongue. However, I do not think that this remark was appropriate in this context. (For the reasons I cited above).

I think one should not
"

frog, you're projecting. I don't despise the Shalits and nothing in my text shows that I do. And just like I'm not responsible for your comments, I'm not responsible for the comments of others.

Keli Ata said...

I hope all of these exchanges and use of the word shikse isn't being directed at me.

Anonymous said...

Keli, stop with the guilty conscience.

We have someone posting under "Anonymous", who has some phobia about getting a Blogger ID of Shikse or similar. Go figure.

in the vanguard said...

What sort of silly reaction is that to take - that Bibi didn't kidnap him. That's not at all the point!

Think of it as if, G-d forbid, your own kid was kidnapped by hamas. You would ask Bibi, who represents your, to invade Gaza and force them to hand over Gilad? You'd want Bibi to stop the supply lines of food, water, electricity, medicine and money, until they hand the boy over. You'd say to him, enough of this "good will" and pollitical correctness nonsense. Get by bot extricated no matter what! And if you don't, I'll turn at least half of Gaza into a carpet.

Anonymous said...

At The Edge, but that's not what the Shalits are pushing netanyahu to do. I wish they were!

After you listened to what Aviva Shalit said again last night, maybe you'll have a clue why what you're suggesting is nothing that the Shalits have in mind.

Facts are like that.

Anonymous said...

Shy, I am aware of this:

http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4387/jewish/100-Sounds.htm

And in my mind it means that all eveil is really a cry begging to be heard, if you get to the core.Somewhat like reading something for the 101th time, assuming you're familiar with that 'metaphor' too.


Shikse

Anonymous said...

Shikse, you posted on the wrong thread. Look for my response over there.

Anonymous said...

Paula R. Stern: Dear Gilad

rivka@israel said...

maybe she expressed herself wrong, but yes-israeli goverment is responsible for gilat shalit life. there is no sence for her to talk straight to hamas, right? you are cinical a bit,but its wrong case to be so.

Batya said...

rivka, it's very clear that the Shalit family has a political agenda besides the personal one. Their pressure on Bibi only makes it more difficult for the government to negotiate their son's release. Gilad will be returned when the Shalits put the pressure where it should be and support the government's efforts. Their German negotiator has failed and should be replaced, ditto for the pr people.