This week, a trade of captives took place between Israel and Hezbollah. The bodies of Israel Defense Forces reservists Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev, who were kidnapped two years ago, returned home; and the terrorist Samir Kuntar, who murdered four Israelis, two of them little girls, was freed.
In the past few years, Kuntar was the prime bargaining chip that Israel held in its struggle to receive, at the very least, information about Ron Arad, who was captured in Lebanon 22 years ago.
Discussions about this swap are, in essence, about the safety and future of the State of Israel, and must not be led by emotions.
But the discussion is essentially an emotional one. In our country, where almost every citizen is a soldier — past, present or future — any talk of security is also about unity and mutual responsibility.
In a state like this, even the most sophisticated weapons cannot match the power of our responsibility to one another. The risk of our losing the mutual obligation between individuals and the state is greater than any external threat we face.
As a former Israeli soldier, a sister to a soldier in reserve duty, and a mother fearfully counting in days the four years until her eldest son’s enlistment, this trade touches me personally.
Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev could have been any of us, anyone from our families. I can’t bear the thought that the state of Israel, whose sons and daughters give their lives for its existence and security, would not exhaust every possible option to secure their return.
But the price that Israel is paying in releasing Kuntar is very heavy. Not only because of the despicable murder he committed; another 30 years in jail could not bring comfort to Smadar Haran, whose family was murdered by Kuntar.
Smadar said a few days ago “Kuntar is not my personal captive, but a captive of the State of Israel.”
Like most Israelis, she understands that Kuntar is most important to us as a bargaining chip. His release was to be the price tag for information about Arad.
The pain of setting Kuntar free without any real information means giving up our leverage, and in essence, admitting that Israel may not receive any more information about Ron.
As we receive Ehud and Eldad’s bodies, we acknowledge our deep responsibility to them. We sent them to secure the northern border. We slept soundly at night, trusting that they would protect us from murderers like Kuntar. We are unquestionably responsible for their fate and their return.
We are also responsible for Ron Arad. Two years after he was captured, Israel refused an agreement that then seemed too high a price to pay. Not long afterward, Ron’s tracks were lost.
This week’s deal ensured that we would not lose Ehud and Eldad like we lost Ron. And it spared Ehud’s wife, Karnit, what we couldn’t spare Ron’s wife, Tami. May the memory of Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev be for a blessing.
With vigilance, with aching hearts, we must remember Gilad Shalit, who was kidnapped two years ago by Hamas and is believed to be alive in Gaza.
May the deal for his freedom take place soon. May his parents, like all parents in Israel, know no more heartbreak.
Rakefet Ginsberg is Israel emissary and director of the Milwaukee Jewish Federation’s Israel Center.
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