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Refraining from participating in demonstrations for the release of the kidnapped

שו”תCategory: generalRefraining from participating in demonstrations for the release of the kidnapped
asked 2 years ago

Hello Rabbi,
Is there any point in avoiding participation in demonstrations for the release of the kidnapped in order to reduce the chance that we will pay an excessively high price for the kidnapped, as we paid for Shalit?
Best regards,


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0 Answers
מיכי Staff answered 2 years ago
It’s hard for me to give a clear answer to this. My feeling is that it is, and that’s why I refrain from participating in these demonstrations. But that’s because I believe the state is doing what’s necessary (perhaps because of the pressure so far), and so further pressure will tip the scales in the direction you described. Others don’t believe they’re doing what’s necessary or think it’s worth it at any cost, and so they do participate. [I am writing this even though my opinion is, as I wrote here, that it is right to release all Hamas prisoners in exchange for all the hostages, if Hamas agrees to such a deal. It is not like the Shalit deal. I fear that the price here will be much higher in terms of security and our policy towards Gaza in the future, and therefore here I object to the demonstrations] In my opinion, some of these demonstrations are also a continuation of the protest against the reform and against the government, except that it has shifted towards the kidnapped (because the other issues are currently not on the agenda and will not arouse identification and participation). This is another reason I have reservations about these demonstrations, and it is related to the previous one. Because I think the demonstrations are excessive, I am putting this in the continuation of the protest. Of course, sharing in the families’ grief and helping them is a great commandment. I’m only talking about the demonstrations.

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אורן replied 2 years ago

Why isn't releasing all prisoners like the Shalit deal?

מיכי Staff replied 2 years ago

Because of the number of abductees, because they are not guilty of their abduction, and because they are civilians and children.

אורן replied 2 years ago

But releasing so many captives will increase the motivation for future kidnapping, as the Rambam said:
“We do not ransom captives for more than their blood, for the sake of the repair of the world – lest the enemies pursue them to capture them”

Furthermore, it is possible that the released captives will cause more future losses than the number of kidnapped, and as the minister said, why are the lives of the kidnapped preferable to the lives of future victims?

מיכי Staff replied 2 years ago

The motivation is still there. In my opinion, we should simply kill every Hamas member and not hold prisoners, and then there is no problem of bargaining kidnappings.
Regarding future losses, right now there are 240 certain versus future doubt. No doubt takes away from certainty.

החלילן replied 2 years ago

What's the problem with protesting against the government?

אבי replied 2 years ago

And what about the law itself of not redeeming captives for more than their blood money?

מיכי Staff replied 2 years ago

The Pied Piper,
There is no problem in principle with protesting against the government (although in my personal opinion this is not the time), but if you do it, you have to be honest and not present it as an activity in favor of the kidnapped.

Avi,
Once upon a time, there was blood for a captive person because it was a thriving commercial industry. Today, this is not the case and there is no fixed price in the market. Therefore, the question of what their blood is remains for our definition.
Incidentally, this law also does not apply to a country that has the power to defend itself and prevent and deal with kidnappings.

החלילן replied 2 years ago

Thanks for the answer.

I would agree with you, if Kaplan's people were at the front. But what I see on stage are families of kidnapped people, I'm sure the protestors have an additional motivation, but if it's a just protest there's no reason why they wouldn't join because of excess motivation.
I mean, what would a person like me do, who wants the kidnapped people to return and also protest against the government?
It's much more important to me that the kidnapped people return. Should I not participate in the protests so that they don't think I'm protesting against the government? Should I say that I'm also protesting against the government and harm the families' struggle?

By the way, many of Netanyahu's supporters are not calling to join the struggle, and in their wake, Bibi's voters, because it puts pressure on Netanyahu and harms him, so naturally it seems that only one side of the political map is participating in the protest, and this is another reason why it seems like they took ownership of it.
Again, I completely think that we need to fight so that this corrupt government falls. I'm already tired of their nonsense and deceit.

מיכי Staff replied 2 years ago

I too want the kidnapped to return. Who doesn't? The question is at what cost, and the question is whether, in your opinion, the protests will benefit the process (because without them it wouldn't be conducted properly) or harm it (because they will increase the cost). In my opinion, they are mostly harmful.

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