Guardian publishes letters arguing Shalit’s release (in exchange for 1027 terrorists) is unfair to Hamas

The Guardian published letters on the Shalit deal, “Letters: Perspectives on the Middle East prisoner swap“, Oct. 14.

The first one, from CiF’s Ghada Karmi, a Palestinian “academic” whose repeatedly called for an end to the Jewish state, equates Shalit with Palestinian terrorists being held in Israeli jails and, evidently will not consider justice to be served until the other 8,500 Palestinian terrorists are released.

Once again, it is Israel‘s perspective which has primacy in our media (Captured Israeli to be swapped for 1,000 Palestinians, 12 October). Apparently one Israeli prisoner, complete with photograph, personal history and anxious family, is worth a thousand nameless, faceless Palestinians without identities, histories, or grieving families. Where is the coverage of these and the 8,500 other Palestinian prisoners, including 35 women and 337 children, currently rotting in Israeli jails, some of them for over 20 years? Hundreds have been on hunger strike since 27 September against their inhuman treatment at Israel’s hands without international reaction. Palestinians draw from this the lesson that they are still regarded as lesser beings than Israelis. Unless that perception changes, there will be no progress towards a solution.
Dr Ghada Karmi
London

This was written by Professor Colin Lacey, Institute of Education, University of Sussex.  Lacey clearly suggests here that the abduction, and five-year captivity, of Shalit was morally justified as a means to free thousands of Palestinian terrorists. 

So let’s celebrate the release of an “icon”. But what about the nameless Palestinians? Are they mere statistics or just a mob? Netanyahu understands the “pain of Israeli families who have lost loved ones to violence”. One hundred Palestinians lost their lives when Israel launched an attack after Gilad Shalit‘s capture. Perhaps they were not loved? William Hague reckons Shalit’s captivity was “utterly unjustified”. How else would 1,000 Palestinians have obtained their freedom? When are Palestinians going to get some recognition as people, every bit as important as Israelis?
Professor Colin Lacey
Brighton

But, the most insidious letter by far goes to John Curtis, from Suffolk.  Curtis, from my brief research, seems to identify with the UK’s Socialist Worker’s Party, (here and here) – a ‘revolutionary Marxist/Leninist inspired socialist party.  Curtis’ letter, published by the Guardian, suggests that Hamas should consider abducting more Israelis in order to secure the release of the remaining Palestinian terrorists. 

With up to 10,000 Palestinians still in Israeli jails, does that mean Hamas has to kidnap a further 10 members of the IDF to secure their release? Justice for the Palestinians is as far away as ever.
John Curtis
Saxmundham, Suffolk

Here’s a partial list of the 1027 Palestinian prisoners being released in the deal for Shalit.

  • Abdel Hadi Ghanem,  an Islamic Jihad terrorist responsible for the 1989 terror attack on Egged bus 405, in which 16 Israelis were killed.
  • Fahad Schludi, a terror operative who took part in the 1993 abduction and murder of IDF soldier Yaron Chen.
  • Bassam Abu Sneina and Riyad Asila, who are serving a life sentence for the 1998 murder of yeshiva student Haim Kerman.
  • Nael al-Barghouthi, the longest-serving Palestinian prisoner, who was sentenced to life in prison in 1978, for murdering an Israeli security officer.
  • Yehiya As-Sinwar, who was one of the founders of Hamas’ security forces in Gaza and was involved in the abduction and murder of IDF soldier Nachshon Wachsman. He is also the brother of one of the terrorists involved in Gilad Shalit’s kidnapping.
  • Jihad Yarmur, who was convicted of Nachshon Wachsman’s murder.
  • Ahmed Najar, former head of the Silwad terror cell, which killed 3 Israelis in six shooting attacks during the al-Aqsa Intifada.
  • Mohammed Hamada, who was convicted of planning a rocket attack on Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.
  • Ruhi Musteha, a senior operative with Hamas’ military wing.
  • Husam Badran, the former head of Hamas’ military wing in the West Bank, who orchestrated the deadly terror attacks at the Tel Aviv Dolphinarium in 2001, at the Park Hotel in Netanya in 2002 (which killed 30) and at the Sbarro restaurant in Jerusalem in 2001 (which killed 15).
  • Muhammad Duglas, who was implicated in the Sbarro attack, and is serving 15 consecutive life sentences for the murder of 19 Israelis. 

So, even the partial list of Palestinian terrorists being released to gain the release of Gilad Shalit are responsible for the murder of 86 Israelis – a fact which doesn’t in the least concern the three contributors provided a platform by the Guardian.

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