The recently released video clip of abducted IDF soldier Gilad Shalit reinvigorated rallies in support of a prisoner exchange and placed a major dilemma on the shoulders of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Instead of maintaining a refusal to trade over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for Shalit, Netanyahu faces renewed pressure to agree to an exchange because the video clearly shows Shalit alive and rehumanizes the abducted soldier who was previously viewed by many as a political prop.
Proponents of a prisoner exchange launched a new public relations campaign with the slogan “Bibi- you can do it, finish the job.” Many Israelis who previously opposed a prisoner swap on security grounds, now sympathize more with the soldier and his family. Previous hard-liners now see Shalit as a son of their country, a young man who simply wants to be with his family.
Hamas likely knew that releasing the tape to Israel would result in significant renewed interest from the population. Stalled negotiations led to multiple false “breakthroughs” and the citizens of Israel, who had not obtained signs of life from Shalit in years, remained jaded over the lack of progress. Now, Hamas officials publicly stated that they expect a final deal on Shalit within the coming weeks or, at most, the next few months. Meanwhile, Noam Shalit, the soldiers father, expressed a fear that the process would still drag on for years.
The reinvigoration of the pro-prisoner swap camp placed additional pressure on the Prime Minister’s Office to forge a deal with the terror group and bring Israel’s son home.
However, Netanyahu actually faces the same dilemma as he did last week. Does he exchange terrorists, with blood on their hands, for one Israeli soldier? Would agreeing to some of Hamas’ demands result in the abduction of additional soldiers by terror groups and therefore give Hamas dozens of Shalits? Does a prisoner swap set a precedent? The only difference between this week and last week is that the Israeli public now knows Shalit is alive and there may be more support for a prisoner exchange now than there ever has been.
Photo from Ynet.
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