Who is the 'wise man' who advised the Mengistu family to exert media pressure on the government to rescue their son from the Gaza Strip?
One of two things: Either his entire intention is to bash the government and cause useless public unrest; or he believes that the Israeli public is stupid enough to support the release of murderers in exchange for a person who chose to climb fences and enter the Gaza Strip.
Any reasonable person who seeks to secure Mengistu's release, and who is familiar with the mood in the Israeli public, understands that publicizing the matter and media pressure are the last thing that will lead to his release.
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No government would be willing to release murderers for such a person. The only chance of releasing the man is that the other side will feel that they have no valuable asset in their hands, but a social case. Yes, it may take time, but it is the only chance.
In the Gilad Shalit affair, it was argued that the state cannot give up on a soldier it sent. Even in such a case, there is no justification for paying any price. The state has no right to endanger the peace of its citizens even to save a soldier.
However, in the case before us, the state has no responsibility. Whoever chose to climb the fences and enter the Gaza Strip is solely responsible for the consequences of his actions, with all the sorrow and pain that entails.
Not innocent
If so, what is behind the decision to launch a media frenzy and loud cheers in this affair?
It is possible that those who advised them to do so are not naive or stupid at all. It is not unreasonable that what they have in mind is not the rescue of Mengistu, but the subjugation of Israel in the face of Hamas.
These days mark the tenth anniversary of the destruction of Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip and the expulsion of thousands of their residents.
Even then, many good people stood and shouted until their strength was exhausted – what is the purpose of this crazy act? What benefit will it bring us, besides granting victory to Israel's enemies? They warned that leaving the Gaza Strip would allow huge quantities of missiles and weapons to be smuggled in. They warned that instead of mortar fire on the settlements of Gush Katif, the entire southern region would become a missile barrage.
But there were those who closed their ears to hear and brutally marched toward destruction and expulsion, with the predatory support of the media.
And you asked yourself: Was it hidden between them? And don't people understand that this is going to be a cry for generations?
The days passed and the awl came out of the bag.
Suddenly, senior figures in the political and media arena began to admit that the main goal was not to promote peace or improve security. The main goal was to break the spirit of the settlers. The hatred for the heroes of the war, the settlers of the Land of Israel, was so great that anything was permissible to hit them.
Following the money
We would not be surprised if in time it is revealed that behind the media pressure on Mengistu are also elements – Israeli or foreign – whose sole goal is to bring Israel to its knees and strengthen Israel's enemies.
This suspicion will be further substantiated when we suddenly see huge sums of money invested in this campaign. Anyone who follows the money will discover its sources and the motives of the factors that are pouring it in.
This wave must be repelled while it is still in its infancy.
It must be made clear unequivocally: there will be no deal and no price will be paid. There is a limit!
