Q&A: Avoiding Participation in Demonstrations for the Release of the Hostages
Avoiding Participation in Demonstrations for the Release of the Hostages
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is there reason to refrain from participating in demonstrations for the release of the hostages, in order to reduce the chance that we will pay too high a price for the hostages, as we paid for Shalit?
Best regards,
Answer
It is hard for me to give a clear answer to this. My feeling is yes, and therefore I refrain from participating in those demonstrations. But that is because, in my assessment, the state is doing what needs to be done (perhaps because of the pressure up to now), and therefore additional pressure would tip the scales in the direction you described. Others do not believe that what needs to be done is being done, or they think it is worth any price, and therefore they do participate.
[I am writing this even though my view is, as I wrote here, that it is correct to release all Hamas prisoners in exchange for all the hostages, if Hamas agrees to such a deal. This is not like the Shalit deal. I am concerned that the price here will be much higher in terms of security and our policy toward Gaza going forward, and therefore here I have reservations about 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 in the direction of the hostages (because the other issues are not currently on the agenda and will not arouse identification and participation). That is another reason I have reservations about these demonstrations, and it is related to the previous one. Because in my opinion the demonstrations are excessive, I attribute that to the continuation of the protest.
Of course, sharing in the families' pain and helping them is a great commandment. I am speaking only about the demonstrations.
Discussion on Answer
Because of the number of hostages, because they are not to blame for their kidnapping, and because they are civilians and children.
But releasing so many prisoners of war will increase the motivation for future kidnappings, as Maimonides said:
"Captives are not redeemed for more than their value, for the sake of repairing the world—so that enemies will not pursue them in order to take them captive."
And furthermore, it is possible that the released terrorists will cause more future casualties than the number of hostages, and as the minister said, why are the lives of the hostages preferable to the lives of future victims?
That motivation already fully exists now. In my opinion, we should simply kill every Hamas member and not hold prisoners, and then there is no problem of kidnappings for bargaining.
As for future casualties, right now there are 240 for certain versus a possible future doubt. A doubt does not override a certainty.
What is the problem with protesting against the government?
And what about the law itself that captives are not redeemed for more than their value?
The Piper,
There is no fundamental problem with protesting against the government (although in my personal opinion this is not the time), but if that is what one is doing, one should be honest and not present it as activity on behalf of the hostages.
Avi,
In the past, a captive person had a monetary value because this was a thriving commercial enterprise. Today, thank God, that is not the situation, and there is no fixed market price. Therefore the question of what their value is remains for us to define.
Besides, this law also does not apply to a state that has the power to defend itself, prevent kidnappings, and deal with them.
Thank you for the answer.
I would agree with you if the Kaplan people were at the front. But who I see on stage are hostage families. I am sure the protest people have an additional motivation, but if the protest itself is justified there is no reason they should not join just because of excess motivation.
In other words, what should someone like me do, who wants the hostages to return and also wants to protest against the government?
It is much more important to me that the hostages return. Should I not participate in the protests so that people will not think I am protesting against the government? Should I say that I am also protesting against the government and thereby harm the families' struggle?
By the way, many of Netanyahu's mouthpieces are not calling to join the struggle, and following them, Bibi voters are not either, because it puts pressure on Netanyahu and hurts him. So naturally it ends up looking like only one side of the political map is taking part in the protest, and that is another reason why it seems they have taken ownership of it.
And again, I absolutely think we need to fight so that this corrupt government falls. I am already sick of their tricks and deceptions.
I also want the hostages to return. Who doesn't? The question is at what price, and whether in your assessment the demonstrations will help the process (because without them it would not be conducted properly) or harm it (because they will raise the price). In my opinion, they mainly do harm.
Why is releasing all the prisoners not like the Shalit deal?