Q&A: Returning the Bodies of the Fallen from Operation Protective Edge
Returning the Bodies of the Fallen from Operation Protective Edge
Question
Hi Michi,
Until recently I thought it was improper to reach any agreement with Hamas without their returning to us the bodies of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, and Avera Mengistu alive. In recent days, though, my position regarding the two fallen soldiers has been shaken. [I should note that one of my friends suggested that perhaps something happened to their bodies like what happened to Ron Arad’s body!]
Today I think we need to look these families of the fallen straight in the eye and tell them: it is not proper to endanger anyone’s life in order to bring their loved ones to burial in a Jewish grave. And we should also tell the families, courageously and honestly, that it is not proper to cut short an Arab’s life in order to bring back the bodies of their loved ones.
They are no different from the crew of the Dakar; they are no different from the millions of Jews who were annihilated in the Holocaust and went up in the smoke of the crematoria.
Maybe if the Israeli government gives up on the bodies, Hamas will agree to return Avera Mengistu.
What is your view on this issue?
And now I’ve taken on another project for myself:
to work against the anti-Israel incitement, not by a frontal attack, but like in the martial arts of the East: to use the opponent’s momentum in order to defeat him.
All the best
Answer
I completely agree that lives should not be endangered for the sake of bodies. But here we are talking about our lives, not the enemy’s, including its civilians. Civilians bear responsibility for the actions of their government (especially when they elected it), so I have no principled problem with harming them in order to get the bodies back.
I have also written this several times in the past: I oppose the IDF policy of not leaving bodies behind even at the cost of risking soldiers’ lives.
But using pressure levers—such as taking their people prisoner or killing them, preventing visits to their prisoners, denying studies and prison conditions, cutting off supplies to the Strip (including water and electricity), taking all their taxes and money completely until they return the bodies, and the like—that is something we absolutely must do in order to get the bodies back.
The problem is that we have a miserable government and an even more miserable army, so there is no chance that anything will be done if it requires paying a price or creates unrest. They operate only to gain two more days of quiet, without setting any policy with even a one-meter look ahead.
Discussion on Answer
When I decide to kill myself, there are much more efficient ways to do it. You can just jump off the roof, and that’s it.
If you ever consider jumping off the roof, all your students from the site—and pretty much from every site—will be waiting for you below as a human safety net. Just let us know in advance, preferably after the trilogy launch, since we’re planning to get together for a toast anyway.
I volunteer to set up the Synthetic Party for the Knesset. Let’s go!
Why is there such an issue about returning bodies? In my opinion, it’s legitimate for the government not to be willing to pay a price, even if it’s “only” political, for bodies—not to mention that the government may estimate that using these “pressure levers” would also carry a cost in lives.
Has the value of “bringing someone to burial in a Jewish grave” not been blown way out of proportion? It too has its limits.
People have a hard time looking bereaved families in the eye and saying: despite the heavy price you paid, you still weren’t chosen to determine foreign and security policy.
Completely agree.
Why doesn’t the Rabbi consider going into politics? It seems to me that on a huge number of issues you could present persuasive arguments that no person with a drop of integrity could stand against (like your posts on homosexuality, the wedding in Shas, and a thousand other things).