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Barry Shaw made Aliyah from England in the 1970s, is manager of Netanya Real Estate, and founder of the Netanya Terror Victims Fund. He is the author of "The View from Here" series of commentaries from Israel.
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By Barry Shaw
July 28, 2003
I do not buy into the blackmail that Israel must release the Palestinian murderers and terrorists if we wish to strengthen Abu Mazen.
These characters would boost the ranks of the very organizations that truly threaten him. Any political gain for Abu Mazen would be fleeting and fraught with risk for Israel. And it is the vocal and dangerous section of his own constituency that threatens his authority, and even his life.
Nothing in the road map protocol requires Israel to release prisoners as part of a ceasefire. The road map does, however, demand that the Palestinian Authority disarm and disband the terrorist organizations in their midst. Abu Mazen has repeatedly stated that he has no intention of doing this.
Neither do I buy into the argument that Israel should display humanity to the families of the Palestinian prisoners. They are angry and frustrated that their loved ones remain behind bars. If their Palestine is to develop into a society with civilized norms and values, they must be brought to an understanding that humanity without justice is no humanity at all.
Releasing murderers and terrorists is an expediency that will teach them nothing except that to kill and maim is a glorious pursuit with no price to pay.
How about humanity and justice for Anna and for Elad who will spend the rest of their lives in wheelchairs?
Or for Vickie and her two young daughters who will go through life without Andre, their husband and father, who died horribly while buying groceries for his family at the market?
Or for Sherry who, though part of her brain has been blown away, is aware that she will never see her father again?
Or humanity and justice for the young mother and her precious little boys coldly shot to death as they quaked in fear in their beds?
This is why I do not hear the angry shouts of Palestinian mothers and sisters for the release of their family members.
For me, their noise is drowned out by the cries for justice of those with ripped limbs and shattered lives.
If we are to have hopes and dreams of normalcy in our region it must begin by educating a Palestinian society that deliberately butchering innocents does not turn you into a hero, a warrior, or a holy martyr. It turns you into a terrorist, a murderer, a criminal.
If the march to a democratic and normal Palestinian state means that these people are victimized by remaining behind bars - so be it!
Views expressed by the author do not
necessarily reflect those of israelinsider.
 
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